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Landscape- and local-scale habitat influences on occupancy and detection probability of stream-dwelling crayfish: implications for conservation

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Abstract

Crayfish are ecologically important in freshwater systems worldwide and are imperiled in North America and globally. We sought to examine landscape- to local-scale environmental variables related to occupancy and detection probability of a suite of stream-dwelling crayfish species. We used a quantitative kickseine method to sample crayfish presence at 102 perennial stream sites with eight surveys per site. We modeled occupancy (psi) and detection probability (P) and local- and landscape-scale environmental covariates. We developed a set of a priori candidate models for each species and ranked models using (Q)AICc. Detection probabilities and occupancy estimates differed among crayfish species with Orconectes eupunctus, O. marchandi, and Cambarus hubbsi being relatively rare (psi < 0.20) with moderate (0.46–0.60) to high (0.81) detection probability and O. punctimanus and O. ozarkae being relatively common (psi > 0.60) with high detection probability (0.81). Detection probability was often related to local habitat variables current velocity, depth, or substrate size. Important environmental variables for crayfish occupancy were species dependent but were mainly landscape variables such as stream order, geology, slope, topography, and land use. Landscape variables strongly influenced crayfish occupancy and should be considered in future studies and conservation plans.

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Acknowledgements

We thank K. Bradley, J. Brittain, J. Evans, B. Freeland, H. Ladd, M. Mabery, J. Stroman, A. VanStrien, and M. Vincenti for their efforts in field work. Thanks to D. Swedberg for figure help. A. Yarra, N. Graham, M. Moore and two anonymous reviewers made helpful comments on the manuscript. Funding was provided by a grant from Missouri Department of Conservation. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 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

  2. Missouri Department of Conservation, Resource Science Center, 3500 East Gans Road, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA

    Robert J. DiStefano & Emily M. Imhoff

  3. Thomas More College Biology Field Station, 8309 Mary Ingles Highway, California, KY, 41007, USA

    Emily M. Imhoff

  4. Oologah Lake Office, Army Corps of Engineers, Oologah, OK, 74053, USA

    Matthew S. Nolen

  5. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 915 E. Sevier Street, Benton, AR, 72015, USA

    Brian K. Wagner

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  1. Daniel D. Magoulick
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Correspondence to Daniel D. Magoulick.

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Handling editor: Eric R. Larson

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Magoulick, D.D., DiStefano, R.J., Imhoff, E.M. et al. Landscape- and local-scale habitat influences on occupancy and detection probability of stream-dwelling crayfish: implications for conservation. Hydrobiologia 799, 217–231 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-017-3215-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-017-3215-2

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