Many Ontario beaches have signs warning of Crayfish. The critters may seem harmless, but some species are invasive and quickly reproduce, competing with native species and disrupting the ecosystem. Intrigued by this underwater drama, BURA recipient Annabelle Eng joined the Ricciardi Lab to learn more.
Eng, a second-year BSE student, received a BURA this semester to participate in research with Professor Anthony Ricciardi. Along with a PhD supervisor, Eng has been keeping Marbled Crayfish (Procambarus virginalis) alive to continue research on them. These unique crayfish reproduce without males, meaning the females clone themselves. First discovered in the pet trade in Germany in 1995, they are now appearing in Ontario lakes.
Despite being genetically identical, these crayfish vary in size and color. “Some are very big, some are very small, some grow quickly, some don't. They all look different, from very dark colors to bluish marbling, or very light grey,” Eng explained while noting this was something that surprised her.
Her research focused on the habitat of the crayfish and how they might respond to changing environmental conditions, such as water temperature. Eng regularly checked on the crayfish, cleaning their tanks, feeding them shrimp pellets, and noting any scientifically relevant changes in their development.
‘We had to be very careful when cleaning the tanks as to not release any of them to the wild by accident.”
In addition to caring for the crayfish, Eng attended lab meetings and experienced what it looks like to be a graduate or PhD student in a lab. “Being in the lab and part of those meetings was invaluable,” she said, noting that pairing with a PhD student was a great opportunity to get guidance and advice.
With global travel increasing, invasive species like the crayfish are becoming more common, a trend Eng believes will continue. “Freshwater species in particular are at risk,” she noted.
Reflecting on her time as a BURA recipient, Eng expressed excitement and surprise at how much the experience has changed her life. “I didn't think I'd be attending lab meetings or helping with experiments. It’s all very exciting to me. The BURA, has not only opened doors for me in terms of lab research, but made it possible for me to complete tangible work and see results.”
Eng is grateful for the opportunity to study in Professor Ricciardi’s lab this semester and looks forward to more crayfish research opportunities.