Stream-Dwelling Crayfishes of the North Fork of the White River Drainage of Missouri, with Additional Notes from Arkansas, USA

Abstract

Comprehensive surveys are critical to conserve and monitor crayfish communities, imperiled species, and detect crayfish invasions. The Missouri portion of the North Fork White River drainage (MONFWR) was never comprehensively surveyed, but adjacent drainage surveys suggested it could harbor species of conservation concern (SOCC). We surveyed the MONFWR to determine crayfish species richness, distributions of potential SOCC, and potential invasive species. We included recent sampling of the Arkansas portion of the drainage for a more holistic assessment of the entire drainage. We examined potential changes in crayfish communities after three decades at 22 previously sampled MONFWR locations. We also collected the first habitat association data for the endemic, Faxonius longidigitus. We detected eight taxa; none that were not known from the drainage. Faxonius neglectus chaenodactylus and Cambarus hubbsi were SOCC; F. n. chaenodactylus was common and abundant in the MONFWR; C. hubbsi was detected at only one site in Arkansas. Faxonius neglectus neglectus and Faxonius virilis were each detected only once and are likely introduced. Intermittent streams harbored diversity and abundance rivaling perennial segments. We observed no notable temporal differences between 22 historical and current samples. Faxonius longidigitus, detected at few sites in low numbers, was associated with deeper waters and larger substrates.