Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
phylogeny, freshwater crayfish, Euastacus, Ectosymbiotic Temnocephalans
College
Life Sciences
Department
Biology
Abstract
Euastacus crayfish are endemic to the rain forests of the eastern coast of Australia. There are now 43 known species distributed throughout Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Unfortunately many species inhabit areas where human growth, activity, and environmental modification threaten, limit or decrease their population size or natural range (Horwitz 1995; Merrick, 1997). The well being of these crayfish is important because many of these crayfish exist as keystone species in their community. Crayfish are polytrophic and therefore transform energy between a variety of levels and are important for the breakdown of debris (Turvey and Merrick, 1997; Parkyn et al. 1997). Because of their placement in the food chain, changes in population structure or density of crayfish species could have large effects on the structure of aquatic food chains and communities (Nyström, 2002; Parkyn et al. 1997). Euastacus is also a good bio-indicator of freshwater environment health (Merrick 1997).
Recommended Citation
Shull, Heather C. and Crandall, Dr. Keith A.
(2013)
"Phylogeny of the Freshwater Crayfish Genus Euastacus and their Coevolution with Ectosymbiotic Temnocephalans,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 994.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/994