EMIGRATION IN RESPONSE TO RESOURCE AVAILABILITY AS A METHOD OF POPULATION REGULATION IN CRAYFISH.
Publisher
The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.Abstract
The regulatory emigration hypothesis was tested experimentally using the crayfish Orconectes causeyi Jester. Varying amounts of food and shelter were provided to crayfish in tanks with escape routes. O. causeyi rapidly adjusted its numbers in harmony with available resources through density-dependent emigration. Shelter influenced the distribution and abundance of O. causeyi most. Response to food occurred but less and took longer than the response to shelter. The small amount of variance between numbers of crayfish that emigrated during both short-term and long-term replicate tests strongly supports the regulatory emigration hypothesis.Type
textDissertation-Reproduction (electronic)
Degree Name
Ph.D.Degree Level
doctoralDegree Program
Renewable Natural ResourcesGraduate College