What is it about?
We found that Murray crayfish, a long-lived and threatened species endemic to south-east Australia, can thrive in mountain streams that have deep pools with plenty of overhanging streambank vegetation. But when their preferred habitats are lost, there be catastrophic declines in Murray crayfish populations. Our re-surveys of a mountain stream found a 50% reduction in crayfish-preferred habitats and a corresponding 91% loss of crayfish individuals over just six years (2009 to 2015).
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Why is it important?
Murray crayfish are important for maintaining healthy stream ecosystems, due to their roles in cleaning up stream detritus, and as a food source for fish and birds. Severe declines in Murray crayfish abundance have occurred over the past two decades, and our study illustrates how habitat-based approaches (both protection and restoration) could protect the future of this iconic crayfish, which is the second largest crayfish in the world, and a well-recognised species across south-east Australia.
Perspectives
Murray crayfish are a well-recognised species across south-east Australia, and their decline has been upsetting to many Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. While recording a 91% decline in on stream over just six years was heartbreaking for our team, we have hope that by communicating the plight of this species, and the importance of swift actions to protect riparian vegetation and other critical stream habitats, we can see their recovery throughout the upland parts of their natural range. Healthy streams need crayfish, and so we need the crayfish to help us maintain the clear-flowing mountain streams that we enjoy too!
Dr Christopher J Fulton
Australian National University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Habitat specialization and sensitivity to change in a threatened crayfish occupying upland streams, Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, February 2016, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1002/aqc.2620.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Murray crayfish high country hideout under threat
We discuss our findings and show some of the dramatic stream habitat changes there were associated with a steep loss of Murray crayfish over a 6-year period.
Murray crayfish interacting with baited camera
Footage of a Murray crayfish interacting with a baited remote underwater video (BRUV) camera in the Goobarragandra River in 2009. Sadly, this individual was no longer there in 2015, despite this long-lived species being capable of living up to 20+ years of age.
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