Preliminary Assessment of Freshwater Crayfish as Environmental Indicators of Human Impacts in Canyons of the Blue Mountains, Australia

A single species of freshwater crayfish, Euastacus spinifer, was found to occur at higher altitudes than previously recorded in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The study suggests that crayfish could potentially serve as a rapid bioindicator of human impacts, such as those caused by canyoning, due to their sensitivity to environmental changes. Although no significant difference in crayfish abundance or size was observed between high and low visitation canyons, differences were noted between individual canyons. Additionally, crayfish within the same canyon exhibited consistent color morphs, indicating potential genetic selection pressures. The research proposes that with a comprehensive baseline dataset, crayfish could be used by non-specialists to assess environmental impacts and support management decisions.

Hardiman, N., & Burgin, S. (2010). Preliminary Assessment of Freshwater Crayfish as Environmental Indicators of Human Impacts in Canyons of the Blue Mountains, Australia. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 30(4), 770–777. https://doi.org/10.1651/09-3264.1