Bauer, R. T., Ongoing. Testing of Crawfish Defenses Against Zebra Mussel Fouling, University of South-Western Louisiana, Louisiana Sea Grant College Program

Testing of Crawfish Defenses Against Zebra Mussel Fouling

Objectives/Abstract:
The zebra mussel,Dreissena polymorpha, readily settles and grows on the exoskeletons of crawfish. The mussel has invaded the habitat of the commercially important crawfish, Procambarus clarkii. Project objectives are: (1) To determine the intensity and pattern of biofouling of P. Clarkii by zebra mussels under natural conditions, both in native habitats and culture ponds flooded from natural waters and (2) To assess the efficacy of natural defenses of crawfish against mussel fouling which are (a) cleaning morphology and behavior and (b) molting whose rate varies with life history stage.

Methodology: Fouling pressure by zebra mussels will be tested in cage experiments in which crawfish of different life history stages will be suspended in natural waters containing mussel larvae. The efficiency of antifouling mechanisms and molting rates at prevention and clearing of fouling will be assessed using control and experimental (crawfish with varying combinations of impaired cleaning structures) treatments. The functional morphology and behavior of crawfish cleaning mechanisms will be analyzed in the laboratory.

Contact: R. T. Bauer, Dept. of Biology, University of SW Louisiana, Lafayette, LA 70504-2451, (318)482-6435 or rtbauer@usl.edu
Keywords: Bio-accumulation, Ecological_interactions, Ongoing_project, Zebra_mussel
Product Types: Environmental_impacts, Research
User Type: Resource_management