rusty crayfish
DESCRIPTION
Rusty Crayfish. Orconectes rusticus. Current Distribution. Background. Originated in the Ohio River Basin, Kentucky and Ohio. Introduced to Wisconsin in the early 1960’s. Spread through use as fishing bait, educational purposes, pets. Inhabit lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Rusty Crayfish
Orconectes rusticus
Current Distribution
Background
• Originated in the Ohio River Basin, Kentucky and Ohio.
• Introduced to Wisconsin in the early 1960’s.
• Spread through use as fishing bait, educational purposes, pets.
• Inhabit lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers.
• One female possessing sperm and eggs start a population.
Typical Decapoda(order) Life Cycle
Egg bearing Female
Male and Female
Arrow points to the gonopod legs on a male.Seminal receptacle found on females.
Negative environmental impacts
• Displace native crayfish species. - Food consumption
- Disrupt reproduction cycle
- Destruction of ecosystem
- High growth rate
Native Orconectes obscurus
Negative Economic impacts
• Reduction of sporting species
• Decreased recreation usability
• Aquatic maintenance costs
Sparkling Lake, Wisconsin
Sparkling Lake, Wisconsin
Control Methods
• Chemical control methods
• Seasonal Harvest
• Combination fishing restriction and trapping
• Don’t introduce in the first place
Typical Traps
Prevention• Education of the threats
• Mandatory washing and cleaning of equipment.
• Check points
• Implementation of laws
- PA law makes its illegal for anglers to posses, aquarists to raise, and bait
dealers or pet traders to sell O. rusticus.
Identifying characteristics
Don’t Use Me For Bait!