Thesis
Elucidating the ecological importance of the signal crayfish with the application of stable isotope analysis
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2013
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/100783
Abstract
Crayfish are often overlooked in aquatic research. However, recent studies show that the role of this clade is more dramatic than previously thought. We used stable isotopes to explore the ecological interactions for the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) in four Washington State rivers. We determined the crayfish food web location, compared trophic levels between the four river systems, examined for evidence of an ontogenetic diet shift and assessed the potential of crayfish to serve as a vector for marine-derived nutrients. Our results suggest that crayfish consume primarily plants and detritus. We were unable to detect a trophic change between the river systems or an ontogenetic trophic change. This suggests a similar ecological role for crayfish; regardless of location or life stage. While isotope analysis and the application of the IsoSource mixing model suggested crayfish could be serving as a vector for the dissemination for marine-derived nutrients, only a small part of the crayfish diet is predicted to arise from the consumption of salmonid-derived nutrients. Our study failed to find crayfish to be a significant vector in the dissemination of these marine nutrients. However, our results suggest that crayfish occupy a similar niche to that of juvenile salmonids.
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Details
- Title
- Elucidating the ecological importance of the signal crayfish with the application of stable isotope analysis
- Creators
- Jason Kopanke
- Contributors
- Raymond W. Lee (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Biological Sciences, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525178701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis