Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID IN_2024_Mudica

Resilience and distribution of Faxonius rusticus (Rusty crayfish) in the upper Mississippi River basin creeks impaired by methylmercury

Institute: Indiana
Year Established: 2024 Start Date: 2024-09-01 End Date: 2025-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $30,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $30,000

Principal Investigators: Kathryn Mudica

Project Summary: Mercury (Hg) emissions are an ongoing issue in states such as Indiana that rely heavily on coal for energy production. Continued mercury input necessitates ongoing monitoring of the environmental impacts. Freshwater systems are particularly vulnerable because of the persistence of Hg. Sediments can act as an effective sink for Hg when they are not disturbed. Crayfish foraging activities could mobilize and transport mercury in sediments leading to increased availability and resulting in bacterial actions, that make mercury biologically available. Generalized responses of organisms, such as crayfish, are often used as indicators to assess the impact of Hg but this approach could be missing important crayfish species-specific responses. Rusty crayfish, an invasive species, could have specific, aggressive behaviors that could exacerbate the availability of Hg, creating uninhabitable environments for more sensitive crayfish species. The results of this research will help to understand the tolerance and resistance of rusty crayfish to Hg.