Meeting Abstract
The large diversity of crayfish in the Southeastern United States has resulted in a need to quantify not only the geography of each species, but also how those species at risk may be cultivated in a hatchery environment to augment populations. We have collected crayfish in northern Georgia and are seeking to develop a protocol to cultivate these in the lab in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additionally, we tested the viability of a new feed derived from dehydrated food waste from restaurants in the development of these detritivores. With up to 40% loss of food to waste each year in the United States, any use of food waste for purposes other than mulch can help take pressure off landfills and can reduce the concentration of nutrients in waterways. As such, we tested this feed on the Louisiana red-clawed crayfish, Procambarus clarkii , along with a control commercial shrimp pellet. We raised crayfish from hatching over several months to observe mortality rate, growth rate, and coloration. Thus far, there is no significant difference between the feeds in their mortality rate or growth, as the experiment started off with 180 P. clarkii larvae, and ran over the course of 10 weeks. We are reporting not only these data, but growth and mortality data on native Georgia crayfish to the same conditions. Through enhancing their diet with this feed, we expect to have similar growth rates and carapace hardness and color in the long term, and can therefore influence the supply chain of aquaculture operators to use a more sustainable source of nutrition for their animals.
