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Does juvenile competition explain displacement of a native crayfish by an introduced crayfish?

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Abstract

The coldwater crayfish Orconectes eupunctus is endemic to the Spring and Eleven Point Rivers of Arkansas and Missouri, and appears to have been displaced from a portion of its range by the recently introduced ringed crayfish Orconectes neglectus. We examined competition among juveniles as a potential mechanism for this crayfish species displacement through laboratory and field experiments. Orconectes eupunctus juveniles survived and grew in stream cages in their former range, implicating biotic interactions rather than habitat degradation in the displacement. Laboratory experiments revealed O. neglectus juveniles were dominant in the presence of limited food, whereas size rather than species determined occupancy of limited shelter. In a field competition experiment using stream cages, O. neglectus juveniles did not inhibit growth or reduce survival of O. eupunctus juveniles. Consequently, laboratory evidence of O. neglectus dominance did not correspond with competition under field conditions. Combined with previous studies examining the effects of O. neglectus on O. eupunctus, these results suggest that competition may not be a factor in this crayfish species displacement. Alternate mechanisms for the apparent displacement of O. eupunctus by O. neglectus, such as differential predation or reproductive interference, should be investigated.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Comments from A.V. Brown, R.J. DiStefano, G.R. Huxel, D.M. Lodge and two anonymous reviewers improved the quality of this manuscript. We thank all landowners who provided river access during this study. The Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit is supported by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, University of Arkansas, U.S. Geological Survey, and the Wildlife Management Institute.

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  1. Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA

    Eric R. Larson

  2. U.S. Geological Survey, Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA

    Daniel D. Magoulick

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Correspondence to Daniel D. Magoulick.

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Larson, E.R., Magoulick, D.D. Does juvenile competition explain displacement of a native crayfish by an introduced crayfish?. Biol Invasions 11, 725–735 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9286-2

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