Graduate Exit Seminar via Zoom - Krystal Pocock

Plan to join via Zoom Krystal Pocock's graduate exit seminar on March 24, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. Krystal will present, "Trait differences in a non-native and native Ohio crayfish and the effect on rates of leaf decomposition."

Abstract:

As the dominant consumers of leaf litter in streams, crayfish play a critical role in the transformation of energy by breaking down leaf material. Yet the replacement of native crayfish by non-natives can result in the alteration of ecosystem processes. In particular, the non-native rusty crayfish, Faxonius rusticus, has been shown to reduce standing leaf litter stocks in streams outside of their native range. Additionally, leaf breakdown rates by crayfish may be species-specific, driven by differences in behavioral traits. Non-native rusty crayfish have begun to competitively displace native sanborn crayfish, Faxonius sanbornii, in Ohio. The impact of this species replacement on leaf breakdown is poorly understood. Here, my two main objectives were to 1) determine species-level differences in behavioral and physiological traits in Rusty and Sanborn crayfish, and 2) determine species-level differences in leaf consumption and decomposition rates in a stream dominated by Rusty crayfish and a stream dominated by Sanborn crayfish.

Advisor: Dr. Lauren Pintor