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Summary: Aquatic Ecology 34: 389-395,2000.
@2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands
389
Differential growth of crayfishProcambarusalleni in relation to
hydrological conditions in marl prairie wetlands of Everglades National
Park, USA
CharlesA. AcostaandSueA. Perry
South Florida Natural ResourcesCenter, Everglades National Park, 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead,
FL 33034,USA(Phone:305-242-7800;Fax: 305-242-7808;E-mail: sue4erry@nps.gov)
Accepted 23 November 2000
Keywords:crayfish,Procambarusalleni, growth,Florida Everglades,hydroperiod
Abstract
Environmental conditions influence crustaceangrowth by affecting molt intervals and incremental increasesin
lengthand weight. In the seasonally-floodedmarl prairie wetlandsof easternEvergladesNationalPark,U.S.A.,
hydropatternexertsconsiderableinfluence on aquaticprimary productivity, and so may influence the availability
of food resourcesfor highertrophiclevels.The seasonalhydroperiodhasbeendrasticallyalteredby anthropogenic
factors, but the impactson the aquaticcommunity are not well known. We studiedwhether differencesin growth
of crayfishProcambarusalleni couldbe detectedin habitatswith different hydroperiods.We first describedgrowth
patternsbasedon incrementalincreasesin length andweight of crayfishon a high proteindiet in the laboratory.
Regressionanalysesindicated that growth patternsin males and females were similar. Although the intermolt
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