(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species CRAYFISH, NASHVILLE
Species Id ESIS454002
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - CRAYFISH, NASHVILLE
OTHER COMMON NAMES - CRAYFISH, NASHVILLE;CRAYFISH and SHOUP'S
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Aquatic Crustaceans
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - ARTHROPODA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - CRUSTACEA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - DECAPODA,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - CAMBARIDAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - ORCONECTES,
SPECIES AND SSP - SHOUPI,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - ORCONECTES SHOUPI
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Nashville Crayfish
Orconectes shoupi Hobbs, 1948
KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Crustacean
PHYLUM: Arthropoda CLASS: Crustacea
ORDER: Decapoda FAMILY: Cambaridae (Astacidae)
Hobbs (01) described the Nashville crayfish (Orconectes shoupi)
as follows: "A rostrum with lateral spines, thick and concave lateral
margins; upper surface with or without a median carina; fingers of
chela with longitudinal ridge much reduced; whole hand resembling that
of O. rusticus placidus Hagen; epistome with a median carina; areola
approximately 9 to 10 times longer than broad, with two or three
punctuations in narrowest part and length 34-36 percent of entire
length of carapace; in males, hooks on ischiopodites of the third
pereiopods only; terminal elements of first pleopod of first-form male
short, reaching almost to coxopodite of second pereiopod; two terminal
elements separated for only a short distance near tip; mesial process
recurved cuadomesial and shorter than central projection; and annulus
ventralis in female immovable."
O'Bara (01) described the Nashville crayfish in more general
terms: "The Nashville crayfish ranges from 1/4 to 7 inches in total
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species CRAYFISH, NASHVILLE
Species Id ESIS454002
Date 13 MAR 96
length. Pincers are elongate and the tips have a distinctive orange
and black coloration. The hard shell of the crayfish terminates in a
sharp point between the eyes. The general body coloration of the
Nashville crayfish is quite variable. Different individuals may be
found with colorations ranging from green to dark brown. There is,
however, quite consistently found on the Nashville crayfish an area of
lighter coloration on the mid-back region extending down along the
sides of the crayfish towards the head."
The species was orginally reported (03) as Cambarus propinquus
sanborni Faxon from Mill Creek, Davidson County, Tennessee collection.
The taxonomy was clarified in 1948 (01) and the species was described
as Orconectes shoupi.
A detailed description and/or drawings are included in (01,02,04,
05). Collections are present at the Smithsonian Institute,
Washington, D.C.; Tennesse Technical University, Tennessee Cooperative
Fishery Research Unit, Cookville, Tennessee; U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Nashville, Tennessee; and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Asheville, North Carolina. A common name synonym found in the IUCN
Red Data Book, 1983, is Shoup's crayfish.
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species CRAYFISH, NASHVILLE
Species Id ESIS454002
Date 13 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Tennessee; Federal Endangered
Tennessee; State Recognized
E: Federal Endangered
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The Nashville crayfish (Orconectes shoupi) has been designated an
Endangered species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (50
CFR 17.11;P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1540), as amended.
The species has this status wherever found including the State of
Tennessee.
This species is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to import,
export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any wild animal
(alive or dead including parts, products, eggs, or offspring):
(1) in interstate or foreign commerce if taken, possessed,
transported or sold in violation of any State law or
regulation; or
(2) if taken or possessed in violation of any U.S. law,
treaty, or regulation or in violation of Indian tribal law.
It is also unlawful to possess any wild animal (alive or dead
including parts, products, eggs, and offspring) within the U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in
18 U.S.C. 7) that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold in
violation of any State law or regulation, foreign law, or Indian
tribal law.
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
conservation of the species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: Tennessee
DESIGNATED STATUS: Recognized Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
STATE STATUTE: Tennessee Code Annotated, 51-901 to 51-912
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species CRAYFISH, NASHVILLE
Species Id ESIS454002
Date 13 MAR 96
The Nashville crayfish is listed as "Shoup's crayfish" in the
IUCN Red Data Book for invertebrates, 1983.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
Crayfish are frequently taken in the southeast for food and bait.
Because of the species limited distribution these are not anticipated
to be significant uses. Some of the areas of past distribution (where
the species has not been subsequently found) may have resulted from
bait bucket introductions.
77/01/12:42 FR 02507/02515 - Proposed listing
79/12/10:44 FR 70796/70797 - Withdrawal
86/01/24:51 FR 03229/03232 - Proposed listing
86/09/26:51 FR 34410/34412 - Final rule, list as Endangered
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - AQUATIC
INLAND AQUATIC
LAND USE -
Residential
Commercial and Services
Transportation, communications, and Util
Industrial and Commercial Complexes
Cropland and Pasture
Deciduous Forest Land
Streams and Canals
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Riverine, intermittent SB4
4SB
Riverine, intermittent SB2
Riverine, intermittent SB1
Riverine, intermittent RB2
Riverine, intermittent RB1
Riverine, upper perennial SB4
Riverine, upper perennial SB3
Riverine, upper perennial SB2
Riverine, upper perennial SB1
Riverine, upper perennial SB
Riverine, upper perennial RB2
Riverine, upper perennial RB1
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
A description of the Mill Creek Basin as well as the types of
habitat in which the Nashville crayfish (Orconectes shoupi) occurs is
as follows. The lower Mill Creek Basin is highly developed for
industry, commercial complexes, transportation, cemeteries/parks, and
multiple housing units. The mid-basin contains transportation
facilities (including bridges over the habitat), single and multiple
housing units and commercial complexes. Drainage ditches flow into
the habitat containing both agriculture and urban runoff. The upper
basin is primarily agriculture (corn and pasture) with some scattered
residential units and forested lands (oak/hickory).
Mill Creek's substrate is mainly bedrock which is covered in some
areas with gravel runs and scattered limestone slabs. The pools,
backwater areas, and stream margin are covered with silt and sand.
Riverweed (Podostemum) occurs on rocks in swift water areas, and water
willow (Justicia) occurs along some shallow gravel areas. Much of the
stream bank is vegetated with trees and shrubs (06). The Nashville
crayfish has been found in a wide range of environments including
gravel and cobble runs, pools with up to 10 cm of settled sediment,
and under slabrocks and other cover (i.e. urban debris, log or debris
jams, downed logs and at the base of standing snags along the creek).
The largest crayfish are usually found under larger cover. The
species was also found in small pools where the flow was intermittant
(10,11). Gravel-cobble substrate provides good cover for juveniles
(10,11). Females seek out large slabrocks when they are carrying eggs
and young (06) and these secluded places are also needed for molting.
The species is highly photosensitive and is usually found under cover
during the day (06). Canopy cover appears to be an important
Habitat Associations - 1 requirement of the species. O'Bara, et al. 1985 (02) reported that
all sites they sampled had canopy cover of 60 to 90 percent.
Habitat Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species CRAYFISH, NASHVILLE
Species Id ESIS454002
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
OMNIVORE
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Detritus
General
General Vascular Plants-Emergent Nonwoody
General Vascular Plants-Submerged Nonwoody
General Roots/Tubers/Rhizomes-Herbaceous
General Carrion
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species CRAYFISH, NASHVILLE
Species Id ESIS454002
Date 13 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Inland wetlands: swamp
G Aquatic Features: Pool areas
G Aquatic Features: Springs [flowing]
G Terrestrial Features: Downed logs
G Snags: Unknown
G
G Human Association: Public residential parks
G Human Association: Abandoned buildings
G
G
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species CRAYFISH, NASHVILLE
Species Id ESIS454002
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
FOOD HABITS:
Very little is known of the specific feeding habits of the
Nashville crayfish (Orconectes shoupi), but another species of the
same genus, Orconectes kentuckiensis, was found to feed on roots,
stems, and leaf fragments (12). The Nashville crayfish has been
observed feeding on dead animal matter (13).
HOME RANGE/TERRITORY:
The Nashville crayfish is solitary except during mating (06), but
the specific home range is not known. Data on densities (11) and
observations of individuals (02,07,11,12) indicates that they do set
up a territory and defend it. The size of the territory defended is
dependent on size of the individual (07), availability and size of
cover (11), and the degree of crowding pressures exerted by such
conditions as drought and lack of available habitat (11,13) The
species has been reported at densities from 0.6 to 11.9 per square
meter (11).
PERIODICITY:
The Nashville crayfish, under laboratory conditions, is highly
photosensitive. In the wild, the species is most active from sunset
to midnight (11).
MIGRATION PATTERNS:
The Nashville crayfish is not known to be migratory.
COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS:
The Nashville crayfish seeks out cover (large rocks, organic and
manmade debris, rubble, etc.) with the largest individuals selecting
the largest cover (07,10,11). Cover is defended with the largest and
most aggressive individual excluding subdominant individuals (11).
Cover is essential when females are carrying eggs and young (07), and
after molting when the animals' shells are soft making them vulnerable
to predators.
REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS:
Females with eggs and young seek out secluded areas under large
objects (rocks, pieces of metal, and other debris) along the stream
shoreline where a cavity is excavated under the object (06,07).
REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:
The males probably begin molting into the reproductive state
(form I) in late summer with copulation occurring in late summer and
fall. Egg laying likely occurs in late winter and early spring (06).
Most males molt back to the nonreproductive form (form II) during
April (06).
PARENTAL CARE:
Parental care may occur in this species. Females with eggs and
young have been observed in the spring (06,13).
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species CRAYFISH, NASHVILLE
Species Id ESIS454002
Date 13 MAR 96
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Cover appears to be a primary limiting factor for the species
(02,06,07,13) and their restricted distribution makes them vulnerable
to catastrophic events (13). Sex ratio and size of males and females
appear to be about equal (10,11). Based on the large number of
young-of-the-year individuals present during the summer months, over
winter mortality is substantial (13). If the species can be
reintroduced into historic habitat, the limiting factors determined
and alleviated, and threats to its continued existence eliminated,
reclassification to threatened status may be possible (13).
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
In a laboratory study (10) neither Orconectes shoupi nor an
undescribed species in the genus Orconectes that also resides in Mill
Creek were found to aggressively evict each other from preferred
habitat. It is speculated that there may be microhabitats under the
rocks used for cover that partition the animals (10).
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
No information is available.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species CRAYFISH, NASHVILLE
Species Id ESIS454002
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Developing/maintaining stream structures
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human use of habitats
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Controlling pollution [thermal, chemical, physical]
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Pesticide Use
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Herbicide Use
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Agricultural Practice
Beneficial Creating Artificial Habitat/Nesting Structure
Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Beneficial Transplanting wild animals
Adverse Oil Spills
Existing Oil Spills
Adverse Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Existing Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Adverse Highway/Railroads
Existing Highway/Railroads
Adverse Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Existing Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Adverse Dredging
Existing Dredging
Adverse Siltation
Existing Siltation
Adverse Water Temperature Alteration
Existing Water Temperature Alteration
Adverse Strip mining
Existing Strip mining
Adverse Water Level Stabilization
Existing Water Level Stabilization
Adverse Developing/maintaining stream bank vegetation
Existing Developing/maintaining stream bank vegetation
Adverse Applying fertilizers
Existing Applying fertilizers
Adverse Applying herbicides
Existing Applying herbicides
Adverse Applying pesticides
Existing Applying pesticides
Adverse Environmental Contamination/Pollution
Existing Environmental Contamination/Pollution
Adverse Erosion
Existing Erosion
Adverse
Existing
Adverse Vegetation Composition Changes
Existing Vegetation Composition Changes
Adverse Harvesting
Existing Harvesting
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species CRAYFISH, NASHVILLE
Species Id ESIS454002
Date 13 MAR 96
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Results of recent studies indicate that the Nashville crayfish
(Orconectes shoupi) is restricted to Mill Creek and five of its
tributaries in Davidson and Williamson Counties, Tennessee.
Previously it had been reported from three other watersheds but has
not been recollected from these areas in recent years (02,06,07).
Because of the species' present restricted range, deterioration in
habitat and water quality could threaten the crayfish. Presently as
much as 40 percent of the Mill Creek Watershed is developed for
industry, commercial complexes, transportation, cemeteries/parks, and
multiple housing units. The lower watershed lies within the highly
urbanized Nashville, Tennessee, metropolitan area (08). Some of the
stream channels in the lower watershed have been modified. The upper
Mill Creek watershed has less residential and industrial development,
but agricultural activity (corn and pasture) is extensive and this
area has been degraded by organic enrichment (09). Drainage ditches
flow into the habitat containing both agriculture and urban runoff
which can contain organics, herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, etc.
The species' limited distribution also makes it vulnerable to a single
catastrophic event such as a toxic chemical spill, or oil spill which
have occurred in the past (08). Transportation related spills may
occur from Interstate Highway 24 and other major highways adjacent to
the habitat. Runoff from the Nashville Airport (aviation fuel, oil,
etc.) could impact the lower sections of Mill Creek (02).
Because of the extreme developmental pressures associated with
the Nashville, Tennessee area, the Mill Creek basin will continue to
experience land disturbance (which could impact the species and its
habitat) associated with bridge and road construction, flood control
measures (the area has experienced numerous floods (08)), and other
projects that will impact the Creek.
Flood control projects (2 dry flood control dams planned for the
area) could impact the species (depending on the design) by modifying
stream flows, water temperature, and silt loads especially during
operation and construction phases.
Dams, serving as flood retardants during high flows, would retain
water for about 24 hours. No data is available on short-term effects
of pool ecosystems on the species. However, dams could act as silt
traps reducing available habitat upstream. Also, the loss of high
flows could reduce the flushing action necessary to reduce siltation
in other portions of the habitat.
Removal of riparian zone vegetation through development has
reduced and could continue to reduce the available food and cover for
the species (02).
APPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1987. Nashville Crayfish Recovery
Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 18 pp.
The Recovery Plan for the Nashville crayfish specifically
recommends:
1) Preserve Mill Creek population and presently occupied habitat
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species CRAYFISH, NASHVILLE
Species Id ESIS454002
Date 13 MAR 96
of the Nashville crayfish.
2) Search for additional populations and/or habitat suitable for
reintroduction efforts.
3) Develop a reintroduction plan and reintroduce the species back
into its historic habitat in Richland Creek and/or into other suitable
stream reaches that are determined to have been historic habitat.
4) Develop and implement a program to monitor population levels
and habitat conditions of presently established populations as well as
any introduced of newly discovered populations.
5) Annually assess overall success of the recovery program and
recommend action.
The following actions will play an important role in the recovery
of this species. Continue to utilize existing legal mechanisms to
protect the Nashville crayfish and its habitat. Determine the best
methods for reintroduction (wild or captive bred) and reintroduce into
historic habitat. Determine the species' life history requirements
and evaluate threats. Management guidelines for each site where the
species occurs must be developed. Management guidelines might include
land use zoning, control of development, identifying suitable
agricultural practices, control of herbicides, pesticides, and water
pollution. Management authority for each site where the species
occurs must be developed and needed habitat manipulation implemented.
Habitat manipulation might include modification of stream banks and
creating artificial habitat.
Management Practices - 3 (DRAFT) - References
Species CRAYFISH, NASHVILLE
Species Id ESIS454002
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Hobbs, H.H., Jr. 1948. On the crayfishes of the Limosus section
of the genus Orconectes (Decapoda, Astacidae). J. of the Wash.
Acad. of Sci. 38(1):14-21.
02 O'Bara, C.J., A.J. Korgi, and G.J. Stark. 1985. Status survey of
the Nashville crayfish (Orconectes shoupi). Final report on file
at: U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Asheville, N.C. 17 pp.
03 Fleming, R.S. 1938. The larger crustacea of the Nashville Region.
J. Tenn. Acad. Sci. 13(4):299-324.
04 Hobbs, H.H. Jr. 1974. A checklist of the North and Middle
American crayfish (Decapoda: Astacidae and Cambaridae).
Smithsonian Contrib. to Zool. No. 166. 161 pp.
05 Hobbs, H.H., Jr. 1976. Crayfishes (Astacidae) of North and Middle
America. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Off. of Res. and
Development, Cincinnati, Ohio. 173 pp.
06 Bouchard, R.W. 1976. Investigations on the status of fourteen
species of freshwater decapod crustaceans in the United States,
Part I. Troglobitic shrimp and western North American crayfishes.
Rept. on file at: Off. of Endangered Sp., Dept. of the Int.
26 pp.
07 Bouchard, R.W. 1984. Distribution and status of the endangered
crayfish Orconectes shoupi (Decapoda: Cambaridae). U.S. Fish and
Wildl. Serv., Tennessee Cooperative Fishery Res. Unit, Tennessee
Tech University, Cookeville, Tennessee. 25 pp.
08 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District. 1984. Mill
Creek, Wimpole Drive area, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee.
Final detailed project report and environmental assessment.
331 pp.
09 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District. 1981. Water
quality along Mill Creek. Nashville, Tennessee. 35 pp.
10 Start, G.J. 1986. Microhabitat use by the crayfish community of
the Mill Creek Basin. Draft thesis, Tennessee Tech. Univ.,
Cookeville, TN. 44 pp.
11 Miller, A.C. and P.D. Hartfield. 1985. A study of Orconectes
shoupi, Mill Creek Basin, Tennessee. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Nashville, TN. 25 pp.
12 Boyd, J.A. and L.M. Page. 1978. The life history of the crayfish
Orconectes kentuckiensis in Big Creek, Illinois. Amer. Mid. Nat.
99:398-414.
13 Biggins, R.G. 1986. Personal observations made during field
surveys for the Nashville crayfish (Orconectes shoupi) in 1984 and
1985. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Asheville, North Carolina.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 O'Bara, C.J. 1985. Status survey of the Nashville crayfish
(Orconectes shoupi). Final report on file at: U.S. Fish and
Wildl. Serv., Asheville, North Carolina. 17 pp.
02 Bouchard, R.W. 1976. Investigations on the status of fourteen
References - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species CRAYFISH, NASHVILLE
Species Id ESIS454002
Date 13 MAR 96
species of freshwater decapod crustaceans in the United States,
Part I. Troglobitic shrimp and western North American crayfishes.
Report on file at: Office of Endangered Species, Dept. of the
Interior. 26 pp.
03 Bouchard, R.W. 1984. Distribution and status of the endangered
crayfish Orconectes shoupi (Decapoda: Cambaridae). U.S. Fish and
Wildl. Serv., Tenn. Coop. Fishery Res. Unit, Tenn. Tech University,
Cookeville. 27 pp.
04 Bouchard, R.W. 1986. Personal communication. Philadelphia
Academy of Science.
References - 2