Chattooga River Crayfish (Cambarus Scotti)
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Comprehensive Report Species - Cambarus scotti Page 1 of7 ~ NatureServe UEXPLORER Soarch About the Dat{i About Us " Contact Us Halp «Previous I Next» View Glossary Cambarus scottl- Hobbs, 1981 Coogle Chattooga River Crayfish Search for Images on Google Related ITIS Name(s): Cambarus scolfiHobbs, 1981 (TSN 97403) Unique Identifier: ELEMENT_GLOBAL,2.115192 Element Code: ICMAL07740 Informal Taxonomy: Animals, Invertebrates - Crustaceans - Crayfishes Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Animalia Crustacea Malacostraca Decapoda Cambaridae Cambarus Genus Size: D- Medium to large genus (21+ species) Check Ihis box 10 expand all reporl seclions: 0 Concept Hefercnce Concept Reference: Hobbs, Horton. H. Jr. 1989. An l!iuslrated Checklist of the American crayfishes (Decapoda: Astacidae, Cambaridae & Parastacidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 480. Smithsonian Institute Press, Washington, D. C. 236 pp. Concept Reference Code: B89HOBOI GAUS Name Used in Concept Reference: Cambarus scotti -~om;Glvalion ::>Iaiw; NaluroServe Stalus Global Sialus: G3 Global Sialus Lasl Reviewed: 01Jul2009 Global Status Last Changed: 15Jun2000 Rounded Global Slatus: G3 - Vulnerable Reasons: This species only occurs in nine iocalities along Ihe Coosa River basin (extent <5000 sq. km). II has nol been found in any other stream systems and is thought to be endemic to this river. However, there is information major threats which may be having an impact on this species, but it has been described as abundant at some sites where it occurs; especially sites where it was recently found in the Coosa basin in Alabama. It seems secure throughout at least the southern portion of its range. Nation: United States National Slatus: N3 Iu.s. & Canada State/Province Sialus I !United StatesllAiabama (SNR), Georgia (S2S3)1 Other Statuses IUCN Red List Category: VU - Vulnerabte American Fisheries Society Slatus: Threatened (01Jan1996) NalureServc Global Conservation Status Factors Range Extenl: 1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles) Range Extent Comments: Reslricted to the Chattooga River basin (Upper Coosa system) in Chattooga and Walker counties in Georgia and Cherokee County, Alabama. The Alabama specimens are tentatively assigned to this species, but do not share all http://www,natureselve.org/explorer/servletINatureServe?sourceTemplate=tabnlac.report.,.. 3127120 12 Comprehensive RepOli Species - Cambarus scotti Page 2 of7 characters (Hobbs 1981), although it is listed as occurring In Alabama in Taylor et al. (2007). Mirarchi et al. (2004; appendix 1.2 pub. separately) lists this species in Alabama from 9 records in the upper Coosa River system (Chatlooga River). Number of Occurrences: 21 - 80 Number of Occurrences Comments: Collected at 14 sites In Chatlooga (Clarks Creek, Lyerly Creek, Challooga River in 3 sites, Chappel Creek, Cane Creek, Perenniai Spring Run) and Walker Cos. (Cane Creek at 2 sites, Town Creek, Duck Creek at 2 sites), Georgia and five sites in Cherokee (creek north of Gaylesville, Terrapin Creek at2 sites, Challooga River), Calhoun (Choccolocco Creek, Terrapin Creek, tributary to Terrapin Creek at 2 sites), and Sl. Clair Cos. (stream east of Blount Co. line), Alabama (Hobbs, 1981). Mirarchi et ai. (2004; appendix 1.2 pub. separately) and Schuster and Taylor (2004) list this species in Alabama from 9 records in the upper Coosa River system (Chatlooga River) (Schuster et aI., 2008) in Calhoun, Cherokee, and Sl. Clair Cos. There Is one unverified lot in USNM from a creek in Greenville Co., South Carolina. Population Size: Unknown Overall Threat Impact Comments: It is unknown whether Cambarus scotti is impacted by any major threat process. However, it is likely to be undergoing localized declines due to urbanization, alterations to the hydrological regime and water pollution. Shorl-term Trend: Relatively stable (~10% change) Shari-term Trend Comments: Where collected in Alabama recently, it was found to be common where tound (G. Schuster, C. Taylor, pers. comm., 2009). Long-term Trend: Increase of 10-25% to decline of 30% Long-term Trend Comments: Historically, Ortmann (1931) noted a Cambarus montanus acuminatus from the Chatlooga River in trion, Chatlooga Co., Georgia, bul Hobbs (1981) determined this to be what he laler described as Cambarus scotti. Also, specimens from Town Creek (at Roule S2557) north of Lafayelle in Walker Co, Georgia, were also identified by Hobbs (1981) as this species. Hart and Hart (1974) cited it as a host of Dactylocythere falcata (ostracod) in a stream 5.2 miles south of Summervilleon U.S. 271n Chatlooga Co., Georgia. Other NatureServe Conservation Status Information Distribution Global Range: (1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)) Restricted to the Chatlooga River basin (Upper Coosa system) in Challooga and Walker counties in Georgia and Cherokee County, Atabama. The Alabama specimens are tentativeiy assigned to this spectes, but do not share all characters (Hobbs 1981), although it is listed as occurring in Atabama in Taylor et al. (2007). Mirarchi et al. (2004; appendix 1.2 pUb. separateiy) lists this species in Alabama from 9 records in the upper Coosa River system (Chatlooga River). U.S. States and Canadian PrOVinces http://www.natureserve.orglexplorer/servIet/NatureServe?sourceTemplate=tabulaCreport.... 3/27/20 12 Comprehensive Report Species - Cambarus scotti Page 3 of? State/Province Conservation Status i , sx- P,esumed ~• . Exiilpated ~J sH. Possibly g . ExtIrpated - 81: Cri!leally • Imperiled $2: fmpeilled D S3: Vulnerable 84: Apparently Secu,e • S5: Secure t10t 111 Ranked/Under Review (SNR/SU) Conservation Status Not Applicable (SNA) Exotio Hybrid without Conservation Value Endemism: endemic to a single" nation lu.s. & Canada State/Province Dlstributlonl IUnited Slates IIAl, GA I Range Map No map avaiiabie. Natural heritage records exist for the following U.S. counties CD State . 'County Name (FIPS Code) GA IChatlooga (13055)'. Waiker (13295)' .EXlirpated/posslbiy extlrpaled U.S. Distribution by Watershed (based on available natural heritage records) CD Watershed Region CD IWatershed Name (Watershed Code) 03 IUpper Coosa (03150105) + Naturai hentage record(s) eXist for thiS watershed • Extirpated/possibly extirpated Ecology & Life History ('IJ Basic Description: a craytish Habitat Type: Freshwater Non·Mlgrant: N locally Migrant: N long Distance Migrant: N http://www.natureserve.orglexplorer/servletlNatureServe?sourceTemplate=tabu1at~J·eport.... 3/2712012 Comprehensive Report Species - Cambarus scotti Page 4 of? Riverine Habltat(s): High gradient, MEDIUM RIVER, Moderate gradient, Riffle Habitat Comments: Is most abundant In areas with swift water and rocks (Hobbs, 1981). Economic Attributes Management SUllllnary Population/Occurrence Delineation Group Name: Crayfishes Use Class: Not applicable Minimum Criteria for an Occurrence: Occurrences are based on some evidence of historical or current presence of single or multiple specimens. including Jive specimens or recently dead shells (Le., soft tissue still attached without signs of external weathering or staining). at a given location with potentially recurring existence. Evidence is derived from reliable published observation or collection data: unpublished, though documented (Le. government or agency reports, web siles, etc.) observation or collection data; or museum specimen information. Separation Barriers: Separation barriers are based on hydrological discontinuity. Additional physical barriers, particularly for secondary and tertiary burrowers, include presence of upland habitat between water connections of a distance greater than 30 m. Migration of primary burrowers is generally not hindered by presence of upland habitat unless conditions are very xeric (dry and desert like) (Smith, 2001). Separation Distance for Unsuitable Habitat: 2 km Separation Distance for Suitable Habitat: 2 km Alternate Separation Procedure: Freshwater cave (troglobitic) species may occur from near entrances to very deep in cave systems. For cave species, each cave where an observation or collection was recorded (see Minimum EO Criteria, above) constitutes an element occurrence regardless of separation distance unless caves are part of a single hydrological system (see below). Occurrences are additionally separated by underground physical barriers to movement. Multiple caves within a single hydrological cave system are considered to be a single element occurrence when they are less than one km apart. Multiple caves within a single hydrological cave system are considered separate element occurrences when hydrological connections have not been determined or When separated by a distance of at least one km. Separation Justification: Habitat for these creatures Is primarily separated according to each species' burrowing ability. All crayfish are able to burrow to some extent and this ability will help determine the range of habitats in which a species can be found. Burrowing In the Astacldae is limited to streambed and bank excavation (Hobbs, 1988). The Cambaridae, as a whole are much more adept al burrowing than the Astacldae. As a result, they possess a greater habitat range than the Astacidae Including dry water bodies (Hogger, 1988). The burrowers can be classified into three categories: primary burrowers, secondary burrowers, and tertiary burrowers. Primary burrowers tend to remain in their burrows continuously and live in areas without permanent water except during breeding when th~y must migrate to a nearby water source (Hogger, 1988). The prairies