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The Use of Nest-Traps to Study Behavior, Population Structure and Life History of Procambarus spiculifer
Bechler DL, Hightower P, Rousey J and Smith ME 
Published Online: 12/31/2014
Abstract
Nest-traps, first used to study the cavity nesting fish Gobiosoma bosc, were used to study population structure, life history and behavior of Procambarus spiculifer, and data collected was compared to a life history study in the same river basin. Nest-trap occupancy rate was 41.7% with a total of 136 crayfish collected over a 208 day sampling period, March to October 2007. Collections involved 80 females, 54 males and two juveniles for whom gender could not be determined. Gender distributions by size classes were similar in pattern to that collected as part of the more extensive life history study, but statistical differences existed. Higher occupancy rates in traps correlated with below and above average rainfall events. One to five crayfish occupied individual nest-traps. Soft-shelled crayfish, shed exoskeleton and dead crayfish were found in traps. Besides conspecific inhabitants, five species of fish and seven invertebrate taxa occupied nest-traps with crayfish present. The results of this study indicate that valuable insight into population structure involving size relationships and gender analyses, behavioral activities involving conspecific and heterospecific co-inhabitants that occupy cavities can be acquired, and reasonably robust life history data comparable to more detailed studies can be acquired via nest-traps.
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How to Cite
Bechler DL, Hightower P, Rousey J and Smith ME. (2014). The Use of Nest-Traps to Study Behavior, Population Structure and Life History of Procambarus spiculifer. Freshwater Crayfish 20(1):7-16. doi: 10.5869/fc.2014.v20-1.7
Author Information
David L. Bechler Sr.. ,* Biology, Valdosta State University, 1500 N Patterson, 1500 North Patterson,Valdosta, Georgia, United States31602. E-mail: dbechler@valdosta.edu
Phillip l. Hightower Sr.. , Science and Mathematics, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, 2802 Moore Hwy, 1500 North Patterson,Tifton, Georgia, United States31793. E-mail: pwhightower@abac.edu
Josh Rousy Sr.. , Biology, Valdosta State University, 1500 N Patterson, Valdosta, Georgia, United States31698. E-mail: quailwoodmgr@yahoo.com
Michael Smith, Biology, Valdosta State University, 1500 N Patterson, Valdosta, Georgia, United States31698. E-mail: dbechler@valdosta.edu
Corresponding Author indicated by an *.
Publication History
Manuscript Submitted: 10/8/2014
Manuscript Accepted: 12/13/2014
Published Online: 12/31/2014
Published in Print: 12/31/2014
Funding Information
No specific funding statement is available for this article.