Abstract

Crayfish, Orconectes luteus and O. punctimanus in streams of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri, USA, exhibited annual production of 9 g m^-2 yr^-1 dry weight which was equal to the production of the remainder of the benthic invertebrate community. Crayfish were estimated to consume 7.4 g animal matter (mostly other invertebrates), 7.4 g of algae and 34.4 g detritus m^-2 each year. This consumption either equals or exceeds the consumption of these three food groups by all other benthic invertebrates. Ozark streams could be generalized to be moderately productive, fairly low-diversity systems where crayfish play a dominant role in trophic dynamics.

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