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Effects of forest practices on the native signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, in BC |
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| Author: Richardson, John S. |
| Imprint: Vancouver, B.C. : University of British Columbia, 2006 |
| Subject: Forest Investment Account (FIA), Crayfish, Fish habitat, British Columbia |
| Series: Forest Investment Account (FIA) - Forest Science Program |
| Description: |
The health of the physical freshwater habitat is fundamental to the myriad of organisms that requires its unique attributes for their survival and persistence. Potential keystone invertebrate species such as crayfish are closely linked to both the biotic and abiotic components within the freshwater ecosystem, thus proper and careful management of the riparian and forest habitat is needed. This report provides a review of the role and significance of the physical environment on crayfish ecology and the importance of the role of crayfish within the freshwater ecosystem. The biogeography and population ecology of the native signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) in south-western British Columbia was investigated through field stream surveys and mark-recapture methods. Through the use of discriminant analysis, physical site attributes including stream gradient, average bankfull and wetted widths, watershed area and forest/clearcut conditions were found to be ineffective at predicting the occurrence of crayfish within the sampled sites.
John S. Richardson, Teresa Chung. |
