AUTHORS: ZAchary J. Loughman, West Liberty University; Parker Hildreth, Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency; Jonathan D. Eisenhour, Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves; Eric Ng, West Liberty University, Kaleb Norris, West Liberty University; Kathryn Schulz, West Liberty University; Michael C. Compton, Office of Kentucky Nature Preserve.
ABSTRACT: Cambarus jezerinaci, the Spiny Scale Crayfish, is a small headwater species endemic to the central Appalachians of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. Recently C. jezerinaci was petitioned for federal listing, resulting in the need for a Species Status Assessment (SSA). With the exception of C. jezerinaci description, limited surveys have been completed for this taxa. Cambarus jezerinaci has an interesting distribution in Kentucky, with populations known to occur prior to survey efforts in the South Fork of the Kentucky River basin, as well as the Upper Cumberland watershed. In the summer of 2022, a weeklong survey effort procured new C. jezerinaci locations in the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River, as well as the Upper Cumberland. Genetic samples were taken on all animals captured and analyzed with 2 COI genes. Results of this work indicated that multiple lineages existed for C. jezerinaci in Kentucky that differ genetically from type populations, warranting more dedicated work. In the summer of 2024, in accordance with the Kentucky Crayfish Blitz as well as the WLU Crayfish Laboratory, 306 sites were sampled across the entirety of the Kentucky Fork basins, as well as the Upper Cumberland watersheds. Cambarus cf. jezerianci was procured from 28.2% of sites sampled. Genetic samples were acquired from all specimens and will be analyzed using RADSeq methods. Future work will focus on elucidating the conservation genetics and taxonomic standing of C. jezerinaci to support the completion of the SSA.
