| Title | Invasive crayfish as vectors of mercury in freshwater food webs of the Pacific Northwest |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2014 |
| Authors | Johnson, Branden L., James J. Willacker, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Christopher A. Pearl, and Michael J. Adams |
| Secondary Title | Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry |
| Volume | 33 |
| Number | 11 |
| Pagination | p. 2639–2645 |
| Date Published | 2014 |
| Call Number | OSU Libraries: Electronic Subscription |
| Keywords | heavy metals, introduced species, mercury, mining, North Umpqua River, predation, Red swamp crayfish = Procambarus clarkia, Ringed crayfish = Orconectes neglectus, Rogue River Basin, Signal crayfish = Pacifastacus leniusculus, South Umpqua River, Umpqua River Basin, water pollution, Willamette River Basin |
| Notes | Crayfish are important participants in food webs – they eat a lot, and in turn are important prey for many creatures. This is an interesting look at crayfish uptake of mercury in aquatic environments in western Oregon. The authors compare the native signal crayfish with the introduced ringed crayfish and the introduced red swamp crayfish. Interestingly, members of the native species seem to have the highest concentrations of mercury in their tissues. Also, “Crayfish from the Umpqua watershed had the highest overall [total mercury] THg concentrations, exceeding those in both the Rogue …and Willamette watersheds.” (p.2641) The authors note the Bonanza Mine in the Umpqua watershed, as well as a recent increase in gold mining dredging which may have stirred up mercury-tainted sediments as possible contributing factors. |
| DOI | 10.1002/etc.2727 |
