rusty crayfish
Posted by alicia mackinaw on May 25, 2006
Q: what plants and animals are threatened by the rusty crayfish?
Habitat: stream/river
State: Massachusetts
Habitat: stream/river
A: Be sure to look at our unit on the Rusty Crayfish www.enaturalist.org to get an overview of this species and the problems it can cause.
The exact plants and animals that are affected by this intruder will vary, depending on where this introduced species is located. Of course, in your case it's in Massachusetts' waters. But in general, a variety of water plants and the young of larger fishes are most affected. When these crayfish eat lots of plants in an area, they not only reduce plant material for others but also reduce the shelter this plant material provides - less shelter means smaller fish are easier prey to larger fish. Hope this helps you out. Thanks for asking.
John Wiessinger ( May 25, 2006)