To better understand the role of crayfish in nutrient dynamics in tributary streams of Lake Erie, researchers at the GLC are studying crayfish populations in Ellicott Creek. Three species of crayfish occur in the stream, and they appear to partition the habitat based on size and morphology. Since different stream sections have different hydraulic patterns (e.g., riffles are fast-flowing whereas pools are slow-flowing), they hold different amounts and qualities of organic matter and sediment. The processing characteristics of the different species, coupled with their habitat partitioning, may have implications for nutrient quality and quantity exported form tributary streams.
