Does habitat matter? Assessing food resource and trophic niche differences of primary burrowing crayfishes in multiple habitats
| Authors: | Zanethia C. Barnett, Hogan D. Wells, Michael R. Kendrick, Zachary J. Loughman |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal |
| Station: | Southern Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-026-06298-6 |
| Source: | Hydrobiologia |
Abstract
Understanding the functional roles of species is invaluable to conservation planning and effective ecosystem management. We used stable isotope analyses to examine the functional role of two primary burrowing crayfishes from the Piedmont region of South Carolina, USA, across both roadside and field habitats. Distocambarus youngineri served as a secondary consumer in roadside and field habitats, with similar trophic positions between habitats, sex, and size. Distocambarus youngineri relied heavily on primary and secondary consumers, with invertebrates contributing up to 82% of their somatic tissue growth. Conversely, D. crockeri served as secondary consumers in roadside habitats and tertiary consumers in field habitats. In field habitats, D. crockeri relied heavily on primary and secondary consumers, with invertebrates contributing up to 84% of their somatic tissue group. In comparison, D. crockeri in roadside habitats relied principally on primary consumers (up to 42% of tissue composition). In fields, D. crockeri had higher carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios, as well as a larger trophic niche than those in roadside habitats. Our models suggest D. crockeri in roadside habitats consume more vegetation than populations in fields. Our analysis indicated considerable variation in trophic position, niche space, and dietary contribution between primary burrowing crayfish species, highlighting the ecological distinctness of primary burrowing crayfishes, occupying similar habitats but serving different roles within their ecosystems. These findings also highlight the important role primary burrowing crayfish play in these ecosystems, by regulating herbivore numbers, which helps ensure ecosystem stability, as well as facilitates energy flow to higher trophic levels.