Crayfish Symposium - Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference

[Cheyenne Stratton]

Hello Invasive Crayfish Collaborators, 

Dr. Caitlin Bloomer, Dr. Eric Larson, Dusty Swedberg, and I are hosting a Crayfish Conservation and Management Symposium at the Spring 2025 Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, to be held January 19 – 22, 2025.  

We would like to invite you, your students, and colleagues to present any timely research concerning crayfish conservation and management throughout the Midwest. The session description is provided below. If you’re interested in presenting within this framework, please send me (Cheyenne...@mdc.mo.gov) the topic that you would like to present by September 13th.  The due date for abstract submission through the conference website is September 23rd.  Feel free to forward this to anyone who may want to attend and present.

Information about the meeting can be found here: MIDWEST FISH & WILDLIFE CONFERENCE - Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference (midwestfw.org)

Crayfish Conservation and Management

Research on freshwater crayfish has surged in recent decades due to increased recognition of their crucial role in aquatic and semi-aquatic ecosystems. In addition, crayfish invasions have become a pressing issue globally, with the Midwest facing threats from species such as the marbled crayfish, red swamp crayfish, rusty crayfish, and signal crayfish. Traditional methods for managing these invasive species have proven either ineffective, too resource-intensive, or have caused unintended ecological consequences. This has led researchers to explore alternative management and mitigation strategies. Additionally, there has been significant growth in burrowing crayfish ecology and management, along with a noticeable increase in lotic crayfish management and ecology. This symposium provides a platform for researchers and managers across the Midwest to share the latest findings and strategies related to the conservation of native species and management of invasive crayfish.

With the increase in research efforts, there is a growing need among North American crayfish researchers for regular, collaborative opportunities. Surveys at the 2024 Southern Division AFS indicated a need for more interaction between crayfish researchers, state and federal agencies, and on-the-ground conservation managers. The Midwestern Fish and Wildlife Conference provides a key opportunity to facilitate these interactions and foster collaboration among researchers and managers. By bringing together experts in the field, we can better address the challenges posed by invasive crayfish and work towards conserving our native species. We encouraged anyone interested in aquatic and semi-aquatic system management and conservation to attend the session. 

We hope to see you there! 

Caitlin, Dusty, Eric, and Cheyenne 

Cheyenne Stratton

Aquatic Invertebrate Ecologist

Missouri Department of Conservation

3500 East Gans Rd.

Columbia, MO 65201

(573) 815-7900 x2935