Abstract

Crayfish were quantitatively sampled from a permanently-flooded 0.1 ha earthen pond from October 2004 through September 2006. Crayfish exhibited an annual cycle; young-of-the-year (YOY) crayfish emerged from burrows in the fall, grew rapidly through fall and spring, and reached sexual maturity and initiated burrowing activity in spring before assuming burrow residence for reproduction in summer. Most adult crayfish emerging from burrows lived 12 – 14 months, but in some cases, individuals survived as long as 20 – 22 months. Population density peaked in fall with the emergence of adults and YOY from burrows but decreased consistently thereafter until late summer when very few individuals were observed. The standing crop biomass of the population increased from the time the crayfish emerged from burrows through spring before experiencing a decline. Adults emerging from burrows comprised a majority of the standing crop biomass, but as the YOY grew through the fall the crayfish biomass shifted in favor of the YOY in the population. Adult crayfish biomass did not change after emerging from the burrows because of slowed growth. Annual production was 146.5 g m-2 yr -1 and the turnover ratio was 3.52 for the 2004-year class.

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