Geographic Variation in the Primary Burrowing Crayfish, Cambarus Dubius Faxon and Cambarus Carolinus
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University of Tennessee, Knoxville Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Masters Theses Graduate School 11-1972 Geographic Variation in the Primary Burrowing Crayfish, Cambarus dubius Faxon and Cambarus carolinus (Erichson) (Decapoda: Astacidae) in Tennessee with Notes on Ecology and Life History Joel P. Dewees University of Tennessee - Knoxville Recommended Citation Dewees, Joel P., "Geographic Variation in the Primary Burrowing Crayfish, Cambarus dubius Faxon and Cambarus carolinus (Erichson) (Decapoda: Astacidae) in Tennessee with Notes on Ecology and Life History. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1972. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/6 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Joel P. Dewees entitled "Geographic Variation in the Primary Burrowing Crayfish, Cambarus dubius Faxon and Cambarus carolinus (Erichson) (Decapoda: Astacidae) in Tennessee with Notes on Ecology and Life History." I have examined the final electronic copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, with a major in Life Sciences. David A. Etnier, Major Professor We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: William J. Davis, Charles D. Pless Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official student records.) November 27, 1972 To the Graduate Council: . I am submitti~g herewith a thesis written by Joel'P. Dewees entitled "Geographic Variation in the Primary Burrowing Crayfish, Cambarus dubius Faxon and Cambarus carolinus (Erichson) (Decapoda: Astacidae) in Tennessee with Notes on Ecology and Life History." I recommend that it be accepted for nine quarter hours of credit in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, with a major in Zoology. We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: Accepted for the Council: Vice Chancellor for Graduate Studies and Research GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN THE PRIMARY BURROWING CRAYFISH, CAMBARUS DUB IUS FAXON AND CAMBARUS CAROLINUS (ERICHSON) (DECAPODA: ASTACIDAE) IN TENNESSEE WITH NOTES ON ECOLOGY AND LIFE HISTORY A Thesis Presented to the Graduate Council of The University of Tennessee In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science by Joel P. Dewees December 1972 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Appreciation is gratefully extended to Dr. D. A. Etnier, the chariman of the author's committee, for his advice and suggestions during the course of this res~arch and.for hishe~p in editing the manuscript •. The author wouidlike to thank Dr. William J. Davis, Zoology, and·Dr. Charles D.Pless, Agricultural Biology, for serving on·her committee. The author would also like to thank Dr. D. L. Bunting, II~ for his advice in. the statistical analysis. The author is indebted to RaymondW. Bouchard for his help and for his encouragement and interest throughout this study. Special appreciation is given to Dr. H. H. Hobbs, Jr., Department of Inverte- brateZoology, of the Smithsonian Institution, for extending the use of museu~ facilities,and for his time and assistance. The author would like "to thank Dr. Herbert Levi, for use of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. The author would lik~ to thank Mr. Ed Menning, of the Natiortal Park Service, Great Smoky.Mountain National Park, for obtaining a National·Parkcollecting permit. For their help in the collection of 'specimens, gratitude is expressed toL. Wayne Brown, Charles Saylor, J. E. Vancil, and M. G. Wiley. The author would also like to thank JulieL~ Follette and Judith D. Way for their help. ii ABSTRACT An investigation of Cambarus dubius and Cambarus carolinus was made·in Tennessee to evaluate morphological yariation found in populations of these species and to getermine aspects of life history and ecology. Taxonomic position and history of £. carblinus and C• .dub ius. was reviewed and discussed. Three clines ,or possible subspecies.. in C• dub ius were indicated in Tennessee bas'e'd .~~. 'b~'th qualitative '- and quantitative evidence including: width and length of areola, shape and si~§!. of chelae, rostrum, central projection, mesial process, andcQlor• .~.. ;. I ,,?" .' ..;',.. "}.:,j "( C. dubius populations fromn,o~thern'West Virginia and southern Pennsylvania were significantly different from poputations to the south~. Q~ 'ca~olinus could not be separated by quantitative measure" ments from f~ dub ius , but could be distin,g~ished on the basis of the -!.••• central projection. and other qualitative characters. Color phases -. The range fcn both species in Tennessee was discussed and the range limits for C. dubius delineated. Life.history and ecological data were reported for C.dubius and indicated for C. carolinus. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE INTRODUCTION ..•••.•.• .. .'. 1 I. HISTORY AND TAXONOMIC STATUS • 2 Early History 2 Present Status ' ... 5 II.. MATERIALS AND METHODS •. ...• . , ~ 10 Collecting Techniq?es .... ' .... '. • • 10 Traps. ... ".' ..'. 10 Chemical .'. '. ' .. 11 Other ... 12 Measure!i1ents .', •• II 12 General .'. '.. 12 Quantitative .••. •• 4!'. 0 • 13 Quali1;ative .. ,. .... '. 14 Statistical procedures . 15 Life History and Ecological Investigation 16 Color and morphological changes 16 Development and rearing of young 16 Growth ,and sexual,maturity •. " .. " .. ·17 Ecology '. • • ••• 0 • 0 • 17 III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .. 18 Geographic Variation • •• ~ • g 18 Morphological characters 18 iv v CHAPTER PAGE' , , Color " 43 Distribution 48 Cambarus dubius , . 48 Cambarus carolinus 53 Ecology 54 Habitat and burrowing 54 " Associates , ' 58 Food habits , , 59 Life Hi$tory of Cambarus Dubius, 60 , 60 60 62 63 , 64 IV. " , 66 LITERATURE CITED , . , 68 , ' APPENDIX , , , 73 " VITA , '0 76 " LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PAGE 1. Lateral View of First Pleopods of Form I Males of Cambarus Carolinus and Cambarus Dubius ••• ". 0 7 2. Dorsal Aspects of Carapaces of Cambarus Carolinus and Cambarus Dubius 21 3. Areola Length to Width, 'Expressed as Percent of Postorbital Length in,Cambarus Dubius ~ •. ' .• 25 4. Areola Length to Postorbital Carapace Length, Expressed . as .Percent Postorbital Length. in Cambarus Dubius 28 5. Dorsal View of the Chelae of Cambarus Carolinusand Cambarus Dubius ••.••• 30 6. Length of the Inner Margin of the Palm to Width of the Palm, Expressed as ,Percent Postorbital Length in Cambarus Dubius- . .. .. .... ... .. .. 31 7. Width of the Chela to Postorbital Carapace Length, Expressed as Percent Postorbital Length in Cambatus Dubius 33 8. Length.of the Outer Margin of the Chela to Postorbital Carapace Length,Expressed as Percent Postorbital Length in Cambarus Dubius 35 9. Length of the Inner Margin of the Palm to Postorbital Carapace Length, Expressed as Percent Postorbital Length in Cambarus Dubius 36 vi vii FIGURE PAGE 10~ Length Are9la to Postorbital Carapace Length, Expressed as . Percent Postorbital Length.for Combined Populations. 39 11. Length Inner Margin Palm to Width Palm, Expressed as Percent Postorbital Length for Combined Population .••. 39 12. Length Outer Margin Chela to Postorbital Carapace Length, Expressed as Percent- Postorbital Length, for Combined Populations ... ., ................. 40 13. Length Inner Margin Palm to Postorbital Carapace Length, Expressed as Percent Postorbital Length, for Combined Populations .............. CI ••••••••• 40 14. Width·of the Palm to Postorbital .Carapace Length, Expressed as Percent Postorbital Length, for Combined Populations 41 15, Distribution of Cambarus Dubius . .... 50 16. Localities for Cambarus Carolinus and C. Dubius in· Tennessee and Adjacent Areas 50 INTRODUCTION The crayfish ..Cambarus dubius Faxon and C. carolinus (Erichson) were among the earliest described species of the subgenus,Jugicambarus,· but,to date relatively little is known about them. Most authors have commented only briefly on life history, behavior, and ecology. They are· not readily observed or coHec'ted '. due' in part 'tot1:J,eborrowing habits of both' species. Also confusing are the descriptions given by ear~ier investigators in separating theseand'closely allied reJ,atiyes. Theis has resulted in 'uncertainty ,regarding the taxonomic status of C; dubius and.Q.. ca,rolinus for the; past century•. Moreover, substantial ameunts of morphological. and color variation hav.e been found i,n,C. dubius populations from different localities in Tennessee, . suggesting possible s!,ecific or subspecific differences. However, a thorough study has never been made of. this va,ri.;l.tion in Tennessee or elsewhere. It was hoped that comparative ratios of morphological characters. between different ,populations would help in the evaluation of these two pr0blems., Thi,s, tQgether with lack of kn0wledgeofecologyand life histQry of both spe.cies formed the incentive for this investigation! 1 CHAPTER I HISTORY AND TAXONOMIC STATUS Early History, Camparus.caro.linus .was... described by Erichson (1846 :96) as Astacus caroi:i:nus~' a red' crayfish from western South Carolina in the vicinity of Greenville. Erichson noted the narrow areola and single cristiformrow of tubercles ..on the inner margin