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Strong Population Structure and Differentiation within and among Burrowing Bog Crayfish Species of Southern Alabama Wetlands

  • Wetlands Conservation
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Abstract

Despite their high diversity and degree of endemism in the southeastern US, little is known about population genetic structure of most crayfishes. This is because of their cryptic morphology and elusive behavior, particularly burrowing species. We compared population genetic structure of 2 burrowing crayfish species (Creaserinus burrisi and C. byersi) from bogs in Washington, Baldwin, and Mobile counties in southern Alabama, USA. Through hand excavation of burrows, we collected individuals from 7 drainage systems, with C. byersi in the southern extent and C. burrisi in the northern extent of the study area. Based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences, tests of pairwise genetic structure approached the upper limit of 1.0, showed that haplotype sharing between and within drainages was nearly non-existent. Large differentiation between and low genetic diversity both between and within drainage systems occurred for both species. Genetic structuring corresponded to subtle hydrologic features such as fine-scale drainage patterns and human development (road crossings). Our data suggest that these species have recently diverged with extremely low vagility and rare dispersal events, resulting in isolated populations. Such population uniqueness from a genetic perspective pose considerable challenges to range-wide management of these and other similar species.

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Acknowledgement

We thank Eric Bauer, Sam Jeffers, Kathryn Heidt, Nick Barnwell, Stephen Sefick, Sue Colvin, and Jen Weber for field assistance and/or suggestions on earlier drafts of the manuscript. Representative crayfish specimen determinations were verified by Guenter Schuster (retired Eastern Kentucky University). The Nature Conservancy, Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation, and Alabama Forever Wild provided access to multiple sites. Last, Ken Halanych, Matt Galaska, and Damien Waits provided valuable laboratory advice.

Funding

Funding was provided by a Section 6 grant from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA

    Mallary Clay, Jack W. Feminella & Scott R. Santos

  2. Christ School, 500 Christ School Rd, Arden, NC, USA

    Mallary Clay

  3. Department of Biology, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL, USA

    Pamela M. Brannock

  4. Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Michael Barbour

  5. Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Troy University, Troy, AL, USA

    Brian S. Helms

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  1. Mallary Clay
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Correspondence to Mallary Clay.

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Clay, M., Brannock, P.M., Barbour, M. et al. Strong Population Structure and Differentiation within and among Burrowing Bog Crayfish Species of Southern Alabama Wetlands. Wetlands 40, 1595–1606 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-020-01273-w

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