The Effects Of Two Coexisting Crayfish (Orconectes Cristavarius And Cambarus Chasmodactylus) On Sediment Accumulation And Macroinvertebrates In The South Fork Of The New River

Crayfish are considered to be strong interactors in some freshwater systems. They can have direct effects on animals, plants, and sediment accumulation. They can also have a variety of indirect effects on coexisting taxa. Two species of crayfish, Orconectes cristavarius and Cambarus chasmodactylus, coexist in the South Fork of the New River in western North Carolina. The influence of these crayfish on sediment accumulation and benthic macroinvertebrates was investigated using gut-content analyses and an enclosure-exclosure experiment.