New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

crustaceans

Northeastern Crayfish: Tiny Predators, Big Impact

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In the Northern Hemisphere, crayfish are in the family Cambaridae. Globally, there are around 500 species; North America is home to about 400 of them.Crayfish fill my childhood memories. I spent summers playing in streams, flipping over rocks, and, if I was lucky, catching glimpses of these mysterious little creatures. Most crayfish are nocturnal and dart backwards to escape danger.

An early summer morning last year at Crystal Lake State Park, near Barton, Vermont, brought me back to these moments when I saw a crayfish along the shore in the gently lapping waves. As I knelt for a closer look, I realized I knew so little about crayfish in my backyard. [Read more…] about Northeastern Crayfish: Tiny Predators, Big Impact

Unicorns & Six-Foot Lobsters: Adriaen van der Donck’s Confident Inaccuracies

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1685 interpretation of the Jansson-Visscher map of the American Northeast first published in 1656 by van der DonckAdriaen van der Donck (ca. 1618–1655) was a Dutch lawyer, landowner, and political activist in the colony of New Netherland.

He is best known as a champion of colonial self-governance and for writing the first comprehensive account of the region. [Read more…] about Unicorns & Six-Foot Lobsters: Adriaen van der Donck’s Confident Inaccuracies

Gyttja: Lake Mud Beneath Your Feet Reveals the Past

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Gyttja lake mud sedimentMost people know that the bottom of a northern lake or large pond is a mucky, muddy mess of weeds, decayed leaves, some rocks, and a few crayfish to avoid stepping on while wading.

This area is known as the lake shelf. Just beyond the shelf is often a steep drop-off – usually 20 feet deep or more – known as the slope, followed by a longer and much less steep rise leading to the deepest part, known as the basin. With every storm and footstep, most of the muck is re-suspended, moving and settling again on the rise and basin. [Read more…] about Gyttja: Lake Mud Beneath Your Feet Reveals the Past

Vernal Pools: Nursery for Amphibians, Buffet for Predators

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vernal pool in spring (State Parks photo)When the winter snow melts and the spring rain begins, vernal pools appear on the landscape. These ephemeral wetlands form in depressions in forests or ridge lines and offer essential breeding habitat to amphibians and invertebrates, including wood frogs, spotted salamanders, and fairy shrimp.

Because vernal pools dry up in high summer and are disconnected from other waterways, fish cannot survive in them – making them uniquely attractive to many amphibian and invertebrate species. [Read more…] about Vernal Pools: Nursery for Amphibians, Buffet for Predators

List of Species of Greatest Conservation Need Being Revised

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Photo of American woodcock by Rich Sajdak.The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is seeking public input on the draft list of Species of Greatest Conservation Need and associated species status assessments for use in updating New York’s State Wildlife Action Plan for 2025-35. [Read more…] about List of Species of Greatest Conservation Need Being Revised

New York City Wildlife: Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs

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A female horseshoe crab (left) pursued by two males - the top two horseshoe crabs are tagged (DEC photo)A common but rarely-glimpsed denizen of the New York Harbor is the Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus). This prehistoric-looking creature, which is more closely related to spiders than to crabs, has changed little over the past 450 million years.

Since before dinosaurs walked the earth, the horseshoe crab has scuttled around shallow seas on its six pairs of legs, feeding on marine invertebrates with its jawless mouth, and sensing the world around it with its ten eyes. [Read more…] about New York City Wildlife: Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs

New York Ocean Acidification Task Force Final Report

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North Atlantic Right Whale (courtesy DEC)The New York State Ocean Acidification Task Force (OATF) has released its Final Report, Ocean Acidification: Its Causes, Impacts, and Mitigation; A Report to the New York State Legislature. Ocean acidification (OA) is a major threat to our ocean’s health and an acidifying ocean brings with it threats to marine life and the services that the ocean provides. [Read more…] about New York Ocean Acidification Task Force Final Report

Blue Crabs in the Hudson River: Beautiful Savory Swimmers

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tagged blue crab (DEC photo)Along the Hudson River Estuary, you can find blue crabs from Troy to the New York Harbor. These crustaceans have five pairs of legs, the first pair are modified as claws for eating and defense, while the last pair of legs are modified for use as swimming paddles. [Read more…] about Blue Crabs in the Hudson River: Beautiful Savory Swimmers

State of the Ocean 2023 Report Released

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State of the Ocean 2023The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released the State of the Ocean 2023 that provides an overview of actions taken to advance the New York Ocean Action Plan (OAP). The report highlights partnerships and achievements from the first five years of the OAP, including enhancing ecological integrity, promoting sustainable growth, adapting to change, and empowering public stewardship. [Read more…] about State of the Ocean 2023 Report Released

Marbled Crayfish: The Mutants Have Landed

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Adult marmorkrebs (Procambarus fallax forma virginalis) by Wikimedia user ZfaulkesSometime in the 1990s, a mutant crayfish able to conquer and degrade aquatic systems emerged as a result of secret German experiments gone awry. The marmorkreb, a.k.a. marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis), is a destructive new species that first appeared aquariums in Germany. However, it’s more likely the result of too much inbreeding in captivity, rather than some mad-scientist scheme, that led to their mutation.

They are now here, and your help scouting for them is invaluable. [Read more…] about Marbled Crayfish: The Mutants Have Landed

Study: Antidepressant Pollution May Alter Crayfish Behavior

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crayfish courtesy Wikimedia user GusmonkeyboyPharmaceutical pollution is found in streams and rivers globally, but little is known about its effects on animals and ecosystems. A new study, published in the journal Ecosphere, investigated the effects of antidepressant pollution on crayfish. Just two weeks of citalopram exposure caused changes in crayfish behavior, with the potential to disrupt stream ecosystem processes like nutrient cycling, oxygen levels, and algal growth. [Read more…] about Study: Antidepressant Pollution May Alter Crayfish Behavior

DEC Plans Changes to Whelk Harvesting Rules

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Knobbed whelk courtesy Wikimedia user JoshuaDavisPhotographyThe New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced proposed changes to whelk harvesting regulations in New York’s Marine and Coastal District. DEC is seeking to adopt a minimum size limit for whelk to protect immature females in the population and increase their potential to reach reproductive maturity. The proposal is available for public comment until June 21, 2021. [Read more…] about DEC Plans Changes to Whelk Harvesting Rules

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