Description
Procambarus zonangulus (Hobbs and Hobbs 1990) is one of several crayfish species formerly classified as 'P. acutus acutus'. The P. acutus acutus group is now recognized as a species complex including at least 3 species, including P. zonangulus on the Gulf of Mexico coastal plain, P. acutus acutus (formerly known as P. blandingi or P. acutus blandingi) on the Atlantic coastal plain, and an unnamed species or subspecies in the upper Misssissippi valley (Huner and Barr 1991; Taylor 1996).
Potentially Misidentified Species - P. acutus acutus is native in the Chesapeake Bay region (Hobbs 1989; Meredith and Schwartz 1960; Taylor et al. 1960). Morphological differences between the species are slight; Hobbs (1981) compared native GA P. acutus acutus with a population introduced from LA, probably P. zonangulus.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animalia | Crustacea | Malacostraca | Decapoda | Cambaridae | Procambarus |
Synonyms
Invasion History
Chesapeake Bay Status
| First Record | Population | Range | Introduction | Residency | Source Region | Native Region | Vectors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Established | Expanding | Introduced | Regular Resident | North America | North America | Fisheries(Fisheries Accidental,Discarded Bait),Ornamental(Pet Release) |
History of Spread
Procambarus zonangulus (White River Crayfish) is a Gulf coastal plain species, native from TX west at least to the Mississippi River LA (Deng et al. 1991) and possibly to AL (Taylor 1996). It is part of the species complex formerly known as P. acutus acutus, which includes at least 3 species of crayfishes in the eastern United States (Hobbs and Hobbs 1990; Huner and Barr 1991; Taylor et al. 1996). On the Atlantic seaboard, the 'true' P. acutus acutus (P. acutus blandingi, P. blandingi) ranges from FL to NJ, and is native in the Chesapeake Bay region (Hobbs 1989; Meredith and Schwartz 1960; Taylor et al. 1996). The systematics and distribution of the P. acutus complex is not completely resolved (Deng et al. 1993; Hobbs and Hobbs 1990).
P. zonangulus co-occurs with P. clarkii (Red Swamp Crayfish, Crawdad) in Gulf coast rivers and bayous, and in crayfish aquaculture ponds. Usually P. clarkii dominates the harvest, but P. zonangulus forms a substantial proportion, and is the second most economically important crayfish in the United States (Huner and Barr 1991). P. clarkii has been widely introduced around the United States and the world (Hobbs et al. 1989). Since P. zonangulus and P. clarkii are frequently reared together, its likely that P. zonangulus has also been widely introduced. The extent of P. zonangulus' range is not clear, because this species is frequently lumped with P. clarkii (Huner and Barr 1991). On the Atlantic seaboard of the United States, P. zonangulus would be difficult to separate from P. acutus acutus (Hobbs and Hobbs 1990). Hobbs (1982) compared a GA fish hatchery population of 'P. acutus acutus' introduced from LA (probably P. zonangulus with presumed native GA P. acutus acutus and noted numerous small morphological differences. Some of the introduced populations of 'P. acutus acutus' known from NY, CT, and ME (Hobbs et al. 1989; Taylor et al. 1996) could be P. zonangulus.
'Crawdads' imported from LA have been raised on the lower Eastern Shore of MD and VA since 1980 (Associated Press 1986). These stocks consist of a mixture of P. clarkii and 'White River Crayfish' (Harrell 1987), most likely P. zonangulus. Recent surveys (Maryland Biological Stream Survey, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 1996-2007) of crayfishes in MD have found P. zonanghulus in 3 aquaculture ponds on the Eastern Shore, one in the Nanticoke River drainage and two in aquaculture ponds in the Pocomoke River drainage. However, it is possible that many crayfishes identifed as P. acutus in the earlier years of the surveys (1989-1995) were actually P. zonangulus (Kilian et al. 2010). Further surveys, including examination of previously collected specimens from 1995 to 2012, found that P. zonangulus was widespread in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, with more than 700 records, ranging from nontidal Susquehanna and upper Bay tributaries to the lower Potomac and the Eastern Shore. Collections in tidal waters include specimens from lower Potomac tributaries in Charles County, Mattawoman Creek, Nanjemoy Creek Zekiah Swamp Branch, and on the Eastern Shore in Dorchester County, Little Blackwater River (2006-20012, USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program 2017).
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History References - Associated Press 1986; Harrell 1987; Hobbs 1982; Hobbs and Hobbs 1990; Hobbs et al. 1989; Huner and Barr 1991; Meredith and Schwartz 1960; Norden 1995; Taylor et al. 1996; United States National Museum of Natural History collections
Invasion Comments
Date of First Chesapeake Bay Record - Importation of LA crayfish for rearing in the Chesapeake Bay region began in 1980 (Associated Press 1986). The presence of wild or cultured P. zonangulus in the Chesapeake Bay region has not been confirmed, but is considered likely.
Ecology
Environmental Tolerances
| For Survival | For Reproduction | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum | |
| Temperature (ºC) | 36.0 | |||
| Salinity (‰) | 0.0 | 20.0 | 0.0 | |
| Oxygen | hypoxic | |||
| pH | ||||
| Salinity Range | fresh-oligo |
Age and Growth
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Adult Size (mm) | 27.0 | |
| Typical Adult Size (mm) | 38.0 | |
| Maximum Adult Size (mm) | 49.0 | |
| Maximum Longevity (yrs) | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Typical Longevity (yrs | 1.0 | 1.0 |
Reproduction
| Start | Peak | End | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reproductive Season | |||
| Typical Number of Young Per Reproductive Event |
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| Sexuality Mode(s) | |||
| Mode(s) of Asexual Reproduction |
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| Fertilization Type(s) | |||
| More than One Reproduction Event per Year |
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| Reproductive Startegy | |||
| Egg/Seed Form |
Impacts
Economic Impacts in Chesapeake Bay
The occurrence of Procambarus zonangulus (White River Crayfish) in the Chesapeake Bay region has not been confirmed, but is likely, since these species are frequently cultured together in the Gulf coast region (Huner and Barr 1991). In an information bulletin on MD crayfish culture, Harrel (1987) assumes that ponds contain a mixture of P. clarkii (Red Swamp Crayfish) and 'White River Crayfish' . [At that date, the latter name could refer either to P. zonagulus or the native P. acutus acutus (Huner and Barr 1991)]. P. clarkii frequently dominates in culture ponds, but P. zonangulus is often a significant portion of the harvest (Huner and Barr 1991). More information on crayfish culture in the Chesapeake Bay region is presented in the account of P. clarkii.
References - Harrell 1987; Huner and Barr 1991
Economic Impacts Outside of Chesapeake Bay
Procambarus zonangulus (White River Crayfish) is widely fished and cultured with P. clarkii (Red Swamp Crayfish) in its native range in the Gulf coast region of the United States P. clarkii frequently dominates cultured crayfish ponds, but P. zonangulus is second in economic importance of all the crayfish species in United States (Huner and Barr 1991). Because the species are rarely separated commercially and are morphologically and ecologically quite similar, the economic impact of P. zonangulus outside its native range is unknown.
References - Harrell 1987; Huner and Barr 1991
Ecological Impacts on Chesapeake Native Species
The occurrence of Procambarus zonangulus (White River Crayfish) in the Chesapeake Bay region is unconfirmed but likely, based on its co-occurrence with P. clarkii in crayfish ponds (Harrell 1987; Huner and Barr 1991). Its similarity to the native P. acutus means that its most significant interactions are likely to be with its native relative. Competition and hybridization between these species is likely, but has not yet been studied.
Habitat change effects, similar to those described for P. clarkii are possible. However, P. zonagulus is likely to be very similar in its impacts to the native P. acutus acutus. P. clarkii could have larger impacts because of its greater aggressiveness, higher fecundity, and more frequent reproduction (Blank and Figler 1996; Deng et al. 1993; Huner and Barr 1991).
References - Blank and Figler 1996; Deng et al. 1993; Harrell 1987; Huner and Barr 1991
Ecological Impacts on Other Chesapeake Non-Native Species
Procambarus zonangulus (White River Crayfish), if it occurs in the Chesapeake Bay region, would be likely to interact with P. clarkii (Red Swamp Crayfish), with which it often co-occurs in the Gulf region, both in the wild and in crayfish ponds (Harrell 1987; Huner and Barr 1991). In LA crayfish ponds, the two species often stabilize at less than 50% P. zonangulus; alternatively P. zonangulus often disappears (Huner and Barr 1991). In staged laboratory contests, P. clarkii were more successful in winning and keeping shelters than P. zonangulus (Blank and Figler 1996). If this pattern prevails in the field, it could mean that P. zonangulus are more vulnerable to predation.
References - Blank and Figler 1996; Huner and Barr 1991
References
November 24, 1986 Farmers raising crawfish: Maryland goes Cajun.Blank, Grant S.; Figler, Michael H. (1996) Interspecific shelter competition between the sympatric crayfish species Procambarus clarkii (Girard) and Procambarus zonangulus (Hobbs and Hobbs), Journal of Crustacean Biology 16: 300-309
Deng, Xuehuai; Bechler, David L.; Lee, Kwan R. (1993) Comparative life history studies of two sympatric Procambarus crawfish, Journal of Shellfish Research 12: 343-350
Harrell, Reginal M. (1987) Crawfish culture in Maryland, , College Park. Pp.
Hobbs, Horton H. (1989) An illustrated checklist of the crayfishes of American crayfishes (Decapoda: Astacidae, Cambaridae, and Parastacidae), Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology : 1-92
Hobbs, Horton H., Jr. (1981) The crayfishes of Georgia., Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 318: 1-549
Hobbs, Horton H., Jr.; Hobbs, H. H., III (1990) New crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) from southeastern Texas, Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 103: 608-613
Huner, Jay V. (1986) Crawfish introductions affect Louisiana industry, Crawfish Tales 5: 16-18
Huner, J. V.; Barr, J. E. (1991) Red Swamp Crayfish, Biology and Exploitation, , Baton Rouge. Pp.
Kilian, Jay V; Frentress, Jason; Klauda, Ronald J.; Becker, Andrew J.; Stranko, Scott A. (2009) The invasion of Procambarus clarkii (Decapoda: Cambaridae) into Maryland streams following its introduction in outdoor aquaculture ponds, Northeastern Naturalist 16: 655-663
Meredith, W.G.; Schwartz, F.J. (1960) Maryland Crayfishes, Maryland Department of Research and Education Series 46: 1-32
Newsom, James E.; Davis, Kenneth B. (1994) Osmotic response of haemolymph in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and white river crayfish (P. zonangulus) to changes in temperature and salinity, Aquaculture 126: 373-381
Taylor, Christopher A.; Warren, Melvin L.; Fitzpatrick, J. F., Jr., Hobbs, Horton H.., Jezerinac, Raymond F., Pflieger, William L., Robison, Henry W. (1996) Conservation status of crayfishes of the United States and Canada, Fisheries 21: 25-37