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University of Michigan Biological Station

The University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) was founded in 1909.

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Do stream road crossings contribute to habitat fragmentation of crayfish?

Aquatic
Project Abstract: 
Infrastructure for roads is one cause of anthropogenic habitat fragmentation. Habitat fragmentation puts populations at a greater risk of extinction than habitat loss without fragmentation (Brook et al., 2008). Culverts, which are pipes built under roads to allow for passage of water, may act as common barriers in habitat fragmentation of aquatic systems. Previous research suggests that flow rates of streams through culverts may serve as a mechanism for habitat fragmentation via selective filtering of species (Foster & Keller, 2011), but the extent to which culverts influence habitat fragmentation has not been fully explored. This research will illustrate if culverts do, in fact, contribute to habitat fragmentation. Crayfish will be used as a model organism due to their role as benthic keystone species in freshwater systems.
Investigator(s): 
Cassidy Florey
Paul Moore
Years Active: 
2017
Methods: 
Using a survey adapted from Juliet Slutzker (a previous researcher at UMBS), I will sample at 15 different sites to determine if road crossings contribute to habitat fragmentation of crayfish. Ten of the surveyed sites will have stream road crossings, 5 with culverts and 5 with bridges. The other 5 sites will be natural streams without road crossings, which will serve as controls. At each site, I will record the number and types of bridges or culverts, if present. At sites with culverts, I will measure each culvert’s width and height. I will collect crayfish with baited minnow traps set up overnight; 3 traps will be set up 10 and 20 meters upstream and downstream of the stream road crossing. I will record population demographics of crayfish caught at these locations. Measurements will include species, size, and sex. I will also measure flow speed and record habitat/substrate type at each sampling location.