Procambarus Fallax) in the Ridge

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Procambarus Fallax) in the Ridge POPULATION DISTRIBUTION, HABITAT SELECTION, AND LIFE HISTORY OF THE SLOUGH CRAYFISH (PROCAMBARUS FALLAX) IN THE RIDGE- SLOUGH LANDSCAPE OF THE CENTRAL EVERGLADES by Craig van der Heiden A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Charles E. Schmidt College of Science in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL August 2012 Copyright by Craig van der Heiden 2012 ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS No major accomplishment is completed without the aid of many people. Firstly, I would like to thank Sheryl, my companion, supporter, encourager, my wife. She has been a part of the plethora of tasks it takes to finish the PhD from supporting the family financially, to reading through my many drafts, to supplying night time fuel drops for the airboat with the kids piled in the car. She was always there when I needed her. Thanks my girl. My kids, Hans, Emma, and Roan, have been a wonderful support and regular “technicians” in my field and lab work. Thanks team. My gratitude goes to Nate Dorn for the advice, support, and valuable time spent “talking science.” I thank my committee members for their wisdom and leadership, expressed in helpful suggestions and aimed at crafting me into a better scientist. Erik Noonburg always accommodated my endless questions and ideas with a willing ear, thoughtful remarks, and a cup of coffee. Without his insight and support, this endeavor would have been a longer road indeed. I am especially grateful for John Volin who has been an encourager, mentor, and friend throughout my time in graduate school. Lastly, but far from least, I thank James Forester for his friendship and constant exhortation, conveyed in long phone calls where he always put things, both scientific as well as personal, into perspective. Without James’s inspiration, I would not have undertaken the journey down this road. iv ABSTRACT Author: Craig van der Heiden Title: Population Distribution, Habitat Selection, and Life History of the Slough Crayfish (Procambarus fallax) in the Ridge-Slough Landscape of the Central Everglades Institution: Florida Atlantic University Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Nathan Dorn Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Year: 2012 Understanding where and why organisms are distributed in the environment are central themes in ecology. Animals live in environments in which they are subject to competing demands, such as the need to forage, to find mates, to reproduce, and to avoid predation. Optimal habitats for these various activities are usually distributed heterogeneously in the landscape and may vary both spatially and temporally, causing animals to adjust their locations in space and time to balance these conflicting demands. In this dissertation, I outline three studies of Procambarus fallax in the ridge-slough landscape of Water Conservation Area 3A (WCA-3A). The first section outlines an observational sampling study of crayfish population distribution in a four hectare plot, where I statistically model the density distribution at two spatial scales. I look at a broad scale difference in crayfish density between the ridge and slough habitat and at smaller v scales by comparing densities within microhabitats. Secondly, I use radio telemetry to study individual adult crayfish movements at two study sites and evaluate habitat selection using Resource Selection Functions. In the third section, I test the habitat selection theory, ideal free distribution, by assessing performance measures (growth and mortality) of crayfish in the two major vegetation types in a late wet season (November 2007) and early wet season (August 2009). vi DEDICATION I dedicate this work to my parents, Hans and Valerie van der Heiden, Who taught me the value of hard work and to never give up. They gave me a childhood filled with adventure, the freedom to explore nature, and responsiblities at a young age. They enabled me to act and think independently which made me into the person I am today. Thank you, Dad and Mom! iv POPULATION DISTRIBUTION, HABITAT SELECTION, AND LIFE HISTORY OF THE SLOUGH CRAYFISH (PROCAMBARUS FALLAX) IN THE RIDGE-SLOUGH LANDSCAPE OF THE CENTRAL EVERGLADES LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................. xi LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... xiii I. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................1 Figures ......................................................................................................................... 7 References ................................................................................................................... 8 II. CRAYFISH POPULATION DISTRIBUTION IN THE RIDGE-SLOUGH LANDSCAPE OF THE CENTRAL EVERGLADES...............................................14 Abstract ..................................................................................................................... 14 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 15 Methods..................................................................................................................... 18 Study System ........................................................................................................ 18 Density estimates................................................................................................. 18 Predation............................................................................................................. 20 Statistical models................................................................................................. 21 vii Results ....................................................................................................................... 23 Discussion ................................................................................................................. 26 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... 32 Tables ........................................................................................................................ 33 Figures ....................................................................................................................... 36 Appendix A ............................................................................................................... 39 References ................................................................................................................. 42 III. MOVEMENT PATTERNS, HOME RANGE AND HABITAT SELECTION OF THE SLOUGH CRAYFISH (PROCAMBARUS FALLAX) IN A FLOODED WETLAND ................................................................................................................48 Abstract ..................................................................................................................... 48 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 49 Methods..................................................................................................................... 53 Study site.............................................................................................................. 53 Tagging................................................................................................................ 53 Relocation............................................................................................................ 54 Turning angles..................................................................................................... 56 Measuring expected habitat use .......................................................................... 56 Movement ............................................................................................................ 59 Results ....................................................................................................................... 60 Relocations .......................................................................................................... 60 viii Turning angles..................................................................................................... 62 Habitat use .......................................................................................................... 62 Discussion ................................................................................................................. 62 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... 69 Tables ........................................................................................................................ 70 Figures ....................................................................................................................... 76 References ................................................................................................................. 82 IV. TESTING HABITAT SELECTION THEORY: THE ROLES OF GROWTH AND MORTALITY ON CRAYFISH (PROCAMBARUS FALLAX) POPULATION DISTRIBUTION..............................................................................92 Abstract ..................................................................................................................... 92 Introduction ..............................................................................................................
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