Observation of unusual neonate-clustering behavior observed post molting on maternal New River Crayfish in mesocosms

Cambarus chasmodactylus (New River Crayfish) is one of the largest crayfish species occurring in the Appalachian Mountains and occupies a niche similar to several highly imperiled crayfishes within the same region.Little is known about the behavior and relationship between female crayfishes of this species and their young, and this unexpected clustering behavior of neonates about the female's head and her tolerance of the offspring had not been described at the time, to our knowledge. We recorded behavior of 10 reference glared females (i.e., aggressive, defensive, or passive); their position in the aquaria (e.g., hidden inside a tube, lying or moving along the gravel, holding on the to air pump or air stone); timing of the female molting; and clustering location and stage of development of the young. We tracked temperature and water pH of tank water as part of the overall contaminant study, pre-during and post testing.