Comparative Ecology of Epigean and Hypogean Crayfish (Crustacea: Cambaridae) from Northwestern Florida

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Abstract
The qualities enabling 6 Floridian [USA] species of Procambarus [P. spiculifer, P. paeninsulanus, P. leonensis, P. kilbyi, P. horsti, P. orcinus and Cambarus cryptodytes to inhabit specific epigean (surface) and hypogean (cave) habitats are described and quantified. Adaptive traits include temperature tolerance, stream velocity tolerance, critical O2 level and metabolism, substrate preference, burrowing and aggressive behavior. Lotic species are larger than lentic or burrowing species and are more tolerant of current velocities but less tolerant of temperature fluctuations, low O2 levels and habitat drying. Larger species are also dominant in interspecific aggressive encounters with smaller species. Cave-restricted (troglobitic) species are tolerant to low O2 conditions, but are relatively stenothermal; the ability to withstand relatively strong water currents or temporary drying parallel the natural habitats of the species. Surface species in perennial habitats are more robust (weight/carapace length) than the surface burrowing species in ephemeral habitats, which are more robust than the troglobitic species. Individual O2 uptake is low when the robustness index is low.