Aquatic EcologY Services

Crayfish Surveys

Astacology is one of ESI’s unique professional capabilities.  Crayfish are integral components of aquatic and terrestrial food webs.  They are important consumers of plant and animal matter, and in turn are eaten by numerous other animals.  Crayfish have been referred to as a keystone taxa because of their abundance as prey and importance in the breakdown of organic matter found in lentic, lotic, and semi-aquatic habitats.  Some scientists estimate that up to one-half of all freshwater crayfish are threatened with population decline or extinction.

We conduct surveys for aquatic, terrestrial, and cave crayfish.  Survey efforts range from desktop habitat reviews (many species are endemic to a few caves or small watersheds) to species-specific presence/absence surveys to multi-species inventories (including detection of invasive species).  We use a variety of reporting and sampling techniques for distribution, density and overall census estimation.

We employ many different survey methods and types of equipment in our field studies:

Burrowing Species (primary/secondary burrowers)

• mist net traps.
• pipe traps
• terrestrial funnel traps
• pitfall traps.
• fiber optic scopes
• excavation of burrows

Stream Species (tertiary burrowers)

• seine nets.
• dip nets
• baited traps
• electrofishing
• hand collections (SCUBA/Snorkel assisted).

We conduct studies in many states, but our experience is strongest in Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, and West Virginia.

 

 

 

Click on this link to view specific project experience: AQUATIC ECOLOGY