It would only make sense that the state’s favorite crustacean is the topic of ongoing research at Nicholls State. Biosciences Associate Professor Chris Bonvillain said they’ve been looking at how water quality and low oxygen levels impact wild crawfish in the Atchafalaya Basin.
“We know our swamps down here they’re naturally low on oxygen, but a lot of human activities have caused oxygen concentration to be even lower. We’re talking like almost near zero oxygen for months at a time,” said Bonvillain.
And while crawfish are surviving in waters with low-oxygen levels, Bonvillain said they’re maturing smaller in size as a result.
“Currently we have students that are looking at the egg production. To see if these crawfish in this low-oxygen waters are the females producing less and of the eggs, they are producing, are they producing smaller eggs,” said Bonvillain.
Preliminary studies show low oxygen produces fewer eggs and Bonvillain said the next phase of research will look at egg size. He said unhealthy crawfish tend to produce fewer eggs…
“So of course, all of that can affect the overall crawfish harvest. That’s what we’re looking at to see if that low-oxygen water affects the egg production as well,” said Bonvillain.
Bonvillian said he’s also received feedback from Louisiana crawfish farmers who say they too are seeing smaller crawfish than in the past.
Comments