Meeting Abstract
Crayfish construct and inhabit burrows for temperature and moisture regulation, predator avoidance, and brood care. Burrow function is closely linked to structure, but the subterranean nature of crayfish burrows has limited the collection of quantitative data on burrow morphometrics. The aim of this study was to investigate what characteristics of burrow structure can be correlated to species and habitat, through phylogenetic and photogrammetric analysis. Populations of Faxonius rusticus, F. propinquus, Cambarus diogenes, Fallicambarus fodiens, and Procambarus acutus acutus were collected from burrows and data on demographics and individual morphology were collected. Fiberglass casts of burrows were created by filling burrows with polyester resin. Excavated casts were digitized using photogrammetric 3D modeling. Digital models were used to calculate total burrow volume and surface area, as well as volume, surface area, depth, and angle to horizontal of burrow entrances, galleries, branches, and chambers. Principal component analysis and structural equation modeling were used to quantify relationships between crayfish characteristics and burrow structure, with a strong correlation between species and burrow volume, surface area, depth, number of entrances, number of branches, and number of chambers. There was not a significant relationship between soil characteristics and burrow structure.
