HR: 1330h
AN: NB33M-09    [Abstracts]
TI: Characterizing the Invasion Front of the Rusty Crayfish, Orconectes Rusticus, in a Pennsylvania Stream
AU: * Wagner, J M
EM: Jason.Wagner@millersville.edu
AF: Department of Biology, Millersville University, P.O. Box 1002, Millersville, PA 17551 United States
AU: Wallace, J R
EM: John.Wallace@millersville.edu
AF: Department of Biology, Millersville University, P.O. Box 1002, Millersville, PA 17551 United States
AU: Perry, W L
EM: wlperry@ilstu.edu
AF: Department of Biology, Illinois State University, Campus Box 4120 , Normal, IL 61790 United States
AB: The rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus, was an unknown species in Pennsylvania during the last major assessment of crayfish as documented in a 1906 survey. An intensive survey of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 2000 revealed that O. rusticus had successfully invaded many streams. Orconectes rusticus are also sold in local bait shops suggesting its introduction was likely due to its use as bait. Orconectes rusticus has the potential to cause serious ecological harm to aquatic systems by displacing native crayfish species via competition and hybridization leading to alteration of food web dynamics. In order to predict the extent of invasions, identification of the physical and chemical parameters predisposing stream habitats to invasion is needed. Our objectives were to determine how a suite of physical and chemical parameters might influence the distribution of crayfish species along a stream continuum, with particular emphasis on characterizing the invasion front of Orconectes rusticus. Rather than an invasion front, we encountered a distinct invasion boundary created by a natural series of small waterfalls. Our data suggest that parameters such as water velocity, depth, pH, and temperature have little effect on the distribution and invasion of Orconectes rusticus along a stream continuum when natural barriers are present.
DE: 9901 NABS Student Award - Basic Research
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly