Abstract

Characteristics of the life history of the crayfish Orconectes ozarkae are described. Data on reproduction, fecundity, and growth were obtained by monthly and some semi-monthly sampling over 39 months from two sites on an Ozark stream. Females oviposited in March or April, depending upon water temperature, and the young became independent by May or June. Seasonal growth and molting began when water temperatures exceeded about 9°C in spring and ceased when water temperatures dropped below 8°C in fall. About half the male and female crayfish became sexually mature in their first year of life. Adult males began molting to Form I in August and September and returned to Form II in April and May when the females were carrying eggs and young. The newly hatched young went through two molts and became independent from the female in the third instar. A strong positive relation was found between crayfish size and number of ovarian eggs, pleopod eggs, and size of pleopod eggs. No statistically significant discrepancies were found between the number of ovarian and pleopod eggs.

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