Meeting Abstract
Abstract : The endemic Colombian freshwater crab, Neostrengeria macropa, has recently encountered an invasive species in Procambarus clarkii, the Louisiana red- clawed crayfish. This Louisiana crayfish species has been identified across the United States, Central and South America, Europe and Asia. P. clarkii competes with N. macropa for shelter and likely for food as well as other characteristics that can define their ecological niche space. To predict which species will best compete for shelter resources, a series of behavior experiments were performed to determine the role of direct competition for shelter. This included individual behavior for space and shelter usage, competition within species for shelter usage, as well as between the two species. Preliminary data results, pending further video analysis, show that P. clarkii will outcompete N. macropa for shelter space. Conclusions that could be extrapolated from these data may include the types of behaviors that will lead crayfish to outcompete freshwater crabs native to Colombia and be used as a model in other geographical locations in the region. The invasive crayfish, which has spread to a vast geographical reach, may hinder the ecological function of other native species in freshwater waterways in Colombia if they outcompete members of this group of crab.
