Freshwater decapod crustaceans (Palaemonidae, Cambaridae) of the Savannah River Plant, South Carolina
Decapod crustaceans (specifically crayfishes and freshwater shrimps) are quite numerous in the drainages of the southeastern United States and occupy an extremely important niche in aquatic systems. As predators they act as disturbance components on benthic freshwater communities and may serve an integral position in the early stages of detrital decomposition. They constitute an important prey item in the diets of a wide variety of terrestrial and aquatic vertebrate predators, including game fishes, such as Micropterus salmoides (La Crepede) and other centrarchids. Researchers at the Savannah River Plant (SRP) employ these crustaceans in studies of the effects of thermal and heavy metal pollution on survival and behavior, as well as in investigations of the fates of heavy metals and radioactive pollution in freshwater environments. A common problem to these studies is the uncertainty of species determinations, and it is our intent to present an illustrated dichotomous key to the decapod crustaceans found in the aquatic habitats of the SRP. In addition, each species is treated separately with reference to specific taxonomic characters, ecology, life history, color patterns, etc. A brief discussion of collecting techniques, preservation and preparation and equipment needed for identification also is presented.
- Research Organization:
- Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Plant
- DOE Contract Number:
- E(07-2)-1
- OSTI ID:
- 7328007
- Report Number(s):
- SREL-7
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BIOLOGY
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
CONTAMINATION
CRUSTACEANS
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FISHES
FOOD CHAINS
INVERTEBRATES
METALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POLLUTION
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
TAXONOMY
THERMAL POLLUTION
US AEC
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES