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Fish predators and conspecifics influence molt location choice by red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard)
Hartman A and O'Neill D 
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Abstract
We tested choice of molt location (in or out of shelter) by juvenile Procambarus clarkii (Girard) at five different population densities of intermolt conspecifics (0-70 per m2), with or without a fish predator present. Solitary crayfish molted either in or out of shelter but molted in shelter when a fish predator was present. Crayfish with conspecifics (at all densities) molted out of shelter regardless of predator presence. Intermolts usually occupied shelter during daylight; consequently, our findings suggest that juvenile molt location choice was influenced more by conspecifics than by fish predators in our system. We suggest that these results might be accounted for by molt site choice based on minimising disturbance. Temperature, but not fish predator presence, altered intermolt interval.
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Hartman A and O'Neill D. (1999). Fish predators and conspecifics influence molt location choice by red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard). Freshwater Crayfish 12(1):244-251. doi:
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