Prairie crayfish: A hazard in direct seeding

Abstract

The prairie crayfish has been a suspected cause of seed and seedling losses on poorly drained sites where southern pines have been direct seeded. Crayfish burrows are often numerous on these sites, and clipping of newly germinated pines is similar to agricultural crop damage by crayfish. A series of studies was started near Alexandria, La., in 1963 to determine if crayfish eat pine seeds and seedlings. Results indicate that they seldom feed on either, but that washing of seeds into burrows is a major problem.

Citation

Campbell, T. E. 1971. Prairie crayfish: A hazard in direct seeding. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service. Vol. 22, 1-5.