Life history, ecology, and low pH tolerance of the freshwater prawn, Palaemonetes kadiakensis Rathbun, in a mitigated wetland of the Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area, West Virginia

An ecological life history study of the freshwater prawn Palaemonetes kadiakensis was conducted at the mitigated wetland of the Green Bottom Wildlife management Area (GBWMA). Monthly samples were collected from November 1996 through November 1997. In addition, weekly samples were collected from May through November for growth and reproductive analysis. Monthly samples yielded 520 prawns. Palaemonetes kadiakensis had a one-year life cycle, with all adults dying by September. Males averaged 23.82 mm (range = 14.15 to 36.75 mm) and females averaged 26.78mm (range = 15.06 to 38.60 mm) in length. Males averaged 0.087g (range = 0.014to 0.293 g) and females averaged 0.140 g (range = 0.014 to 0.417 g) in weight. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.915) between average body length and weight. For the monthly collections, largest percent growth occurred between August and September (32.59 %), with 21.7°C as the average temperature. For weekly collections, the largest percent growth occurred between 31 July and 7 August (39.83 %), with 26.5 as the average temperature. There was no significant difference in sex ratio (p = 0.448). Ovigerous females were present from 30 April to 12 August, carrying an average of 69 eggs. There was a low correlation (r=0.423) between fecundity and length of female. Plant detritus was the main food item for all four seasons, ranging from 82.2 to 97.9 percent, winter and spring, respectively. The median tolerance limit (TLm) for low pH was determined to be 5.03 by linear regression, and 4.60 by straight line graphical interpolation method. A laboratory test at theoretical pH value of 5.03 produced a 95 percent survival rate