Evidence for Hybridization Between Two Crayfish Species (Decapoda: Cambaridae: Orconectes) with a Comment on the Phenomenon in Cambarid Crayfish
- 1 April 1981
- journal article
- research article
- Published by JSTOR in The American Midland Naturalist
- Vol. 105 (2) , 405-407
- https://doi.org/10.2307/2424764
Abstract
Hybridization in cambarid crayfish is rarely observed. Hybridization occurred in Orconectes rusticus and native O. limosus in a small Massachusetts [USA] stream. Characters indicating hybridization are certain specific morphological features of O. limosus appearing in specimens otherwise assignable to O. rusticus. Opportunities for hybridization are created by transplanting species into new habitats. Subsequent relaxation of isolating mechanisms most likely occurs as a result of encounters with foreign crayfish species with convergent chemoethological characters. Another circumstance bringing about hybridization, in cases cited elsewhere, possibly involves inability to find potential conspecific mates due to reduction in population size in less than favorable environments. The former situation is apparently the cause for hybridization between O. rusticus and O. limosus.This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- Chemical Communication and Agonism in the Crayfish, Procambarus acutus acutusThe American Midland Naturalist, 1978