Abstract
The crayfish fauna of West Virginia consists of 23 species and several undescribed taxa. Most survey efforts documenting this fauna have been conducted in lotic waterways throughout the Appalachian plateau, Allegheny Mountains, and Ridge and Valley physiographic provinces. Bottomland forests, swamps, and marshes associated with large river floodplain such as the Ohio River floodplain historically have been under-surveyed in the state. These habitats harbor the richest primary burrowing crayfish fauna in West Virginia, and are worthy of survey efforts. In an effort to fill this void, the crayfish fauna of West Virginia’s Ohio River floodplain was surveyed from 2004 through 2009. From this survey, nine species from four genera were documented inhabiting the floodplain. Zoogeography, biology, and conservation status is provided for all nine crayfishes. The dominant genus along the floodplain is Cambarus, which includes Cambarus (Cambarus) carinirostris, Cambarus (Cambarus) bartonii cavatus, Cambarus (Procambarus) robustus and Cambarus (Tubericambarus) thomai. Cambarus (Tubericambarus) thomai is the most prevalent burrowing species occurring along the floodplain. The genus Orconectes consists of two native species, Orconectes (Cambarus) obscurus and Orconectes (Cambarus) sanbornii; and two invasive taxa, Orconectes (Gremicambarus) virilis and Orconectes (Procambarus) rusticus. Orconectes (Cambarus) obscurus has experienced a range extension to the south and occupies streams formerly occupied by Orconectes (Cambarus) sanbornii. Both invasive taxa were allied with anthropogenic habitats and disturbance gradients. The genera Fallicambarus and Procambarus are represented by a single species. Both Fallicambarus (Cambarus) fodiens and Procambarus (Orconectes) acutus are limited to the historic preglacial Marietta River Valley.
Highlights
Crayfishes are among the most imperiled animal groups in North America (Taylor et al 1996; Taylor et al 2007; Taylor 1999; Taylor and Schuster 2004; Schuster 1997)
The first report of West Virginia crayfishes was that of Faxon (1914), who listed two species in the state
Several potential conservation threats have occurred in the state since publication of Jezerinac et al (1995). In response to these threats, a crayfish survey was initiated in the spring of 2004 along the Ohio River floodplain of West Virginia
Summary
Crayfishes are among the most imperiled animal groups in North America (Taylor et al 1996; Taylor et al 2007; Taylor 1999; Taylor and Schuster 2004; Schuster 1997). Several potential conservation threats have occurred in the state since publication of Jezerinac et al (1995) In response to these threats, a crayfish survey was initiated in the spring of 2004 along the Ohio River floodplain of West Virginia. The crayfish fauna inhabiting the Ohio River floodplain from Huntington, Cabell County; north to Chester, Hancock County, West Virginia, includes eight native species making it one of the most diverse crayfish faunas for a contiguous West Virginia habitat (Jezerinac et al 1995). Tertiary burrowers occur within the floodplain, occupying streams within these environments
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