University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Status Survey for three rare Alabama crayfishes, Cambarus cracens, Cambarus scotti, and Cambarus unestami

Kilburn, Stephanie L; Taylor, Christopher A.; Schuster, Guenter A.

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/45965

Description

Title
Status Survey for three rare Alabama crayfishes, Cambarus cracens, Cambarus scotti, and Cambarus unestami
Author(s)
  • Kilburn, Stephanie L
  • Taylor, Christopher A.
  • Schuster, Guenter A.
Issue Date
2012-07-20
Keyword(s)
  • status surveys
  • crayfishes
  • Alabama
  • Georgia
  • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Abstract
The Slender Claw crayfish, Cambarus cracens, the Chattooga River Crayfish, C. scotti, andthe Blackbarred Crayfish,C. unestamieach have limited ranges confined to northeastern Alabama and northwestern Georgia. As such they are vulnerable to population declines due to single catastrophic events and are listed as either Endangered (C. cracens) or Threatened (C. scotti and C. unestami) according to American Fisheries Society criteria (Taylor et al. 2007). Following conservation priority criteria developed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, C. cracenswas classified as a P1 (Highest Conservation Priority) species, C. scotti was classified as a P4 (Low Conservation Priority), and C. unestamiwas classified as a P2 (High Conservation Priority) by Smith et al. (2011). These three species were chosen based upon their need for range-wide status assessments and limited detection rates in past surveys. The current status survey was conducted to determine true distribution and population statuses of C. cracens, C. scotti andC. unestamiand had four main goals: 1) visit all known historical locations for all three species and sample using traditional methods to determine the presence of each species; 2) attempt to find additional populations of the species by sampling other streams with suitable habitat in northeastern Alabama and northwestern Georgia; 3) assess population sizes of the species at locations where appropriate quantitative methods can be employed; 4) determine preferred habitat for the three species by recording abiotic habitat variables at sites containing the species.
Series/Report Name or Number
  • Technical Report
  • Technical Report INHS 2012 (21)
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/45965
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Copyright and License Information
This document is a product of the Illinois Natural History Survey, and has been selected and made available by the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It is intended solely for noncommercial research and educational use, and proper attribution is requested.

Owning Collections

Technical Reports - Illinois Natural History Survey PRIMARY
Reports produced by INHS staff, usually as deliverables for assessment projects funded by federal or state agencies or non-governmental organizations.