Variation in fine-scale water table depth drives abundance of a unique semi-terrestrial crayfish species

With anthropogenic changes altering the environment and the subsequent decline of natural habitats, it can be challenging to predict essential habitats for elusive and difficult to study taxa. Primary burrowing crayfish are one such group due to the complexity in sampling their semi-terrestrial, subterranean habitat. Sampling burrows usually requires a labor-intensive, time-consuming excavation or trapping process. However, limited information on burrowing crayfish suggests that fine-scale habitat variation may drive burrowing crayfish habitat choice. This project aimed to evaluate the fine-scale habitat characteristics that influence burrowing crayfish presence and abundance at a large, restored-remnant grassland preserve in north-central Illinois. We documented burrow abundance and quadrat-specific habitat variables such as root biomass, canopy cover, apparent seasonal high-water table (water table) depth and dominant vegetation at sites with and without burrowing crayfish populations. Data was recorded at every quadrat and analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. A total of 21 models were created to determine what habitat variables affected burrow presence and abundance. We found that the water table depth was a significant driver of burrow presence and abundance. Root biomass and vegetation cover were not significant drivers, although they did show up in the final models, explaining the data. These findings demonstrate empirical support for previous observations from other burrowing crayfish research and demonstrate the influence of fine-scale habitat when modeling elusive taxa requirements.