Crayfish of Maryland

Freshwater crayfishes play important roles in Maryland’s freshwater aquatic ecosystems. As keystone species, crayfishes affect physical habitat and substrate composition, breaking down leaves, woody debris, and aquatic vegetation, and they serve as an important food source to dozens of animals. Maryland is home to 14 species including 9 natives and 5 introduced species. This presentation will introduce you to this important group of animals, providing a brief discussion of their life histories and their most important threats and conservation needs. Jay Kilian is a program manager with the MDNR Resource Assessment Service. He has worked at MDNR since 2001 as a biologist focused on freshwater stream and river ecology.