Environmental characterization of crayfish (Procambarus spp.) habitats in central Veracruz, Mexico

Authors

  • Ernestina Hernández Roldan University of Veracruz image/svg+xml
    • Data Curation
    • Formal Analysis
    • Investigation
    • Methodology
    • Writing – Original Draft Preparation
  • Ricardo Serna Lagunes University of Veracruz image/svg+xml
    • Luis Antonio Tarango Arambula Colegio de Postgraduados image/svg+xml
      • Funding Acquisition
      • Project Administration
      • Resources
      • Supervision
      • Writing – Review & Editing
      • Validation

    DOI:

    https://doi.org/10.19136/era.a13n2.4835

    Keywords:

    Riparian forest, environmental quality, freshwater crustaceans, endemic species

    Abstract

    Crayfish (Procambarus spp.) are important components of freshwater ecosystems and may be sensitive to environmental changes. The objective of this study was to environmentally characterize the habitats of Procambarus spp., populations in the Las Montañas region of Veracruz. Nine habitats were evaluated using the Riparian Forest Quality index (QBR), 12 physicochemical variables of the water body, and population abundance during the autumn of 2023. Eight populations of P. veracruzanus (227 individuals) and one population of P. olmecorum (42 individuals) were recorded. Exploratory analyzes of the environmental variables distinguished two habitats groups that differed in riparian vegetation quality and water quality. The abundance of P. veracruzanus was positively correlated with the degree of naturalness of the water body and organic matter (%) (p < 0.05). The results provide information on the relationship between habitat and abundance of P. veracruzanus, which is useful for future studies and the conservation of this species.

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    Published

    2026-08-01

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    SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE

    How to Cite

    Hernández Roldan, E., Serna Lagunes, R., & Tarango Arambula, L. A. (2026). Environmental characterization of crayfish (Procambarus spp.) habitats in central Veracruz, Mexico. Ecosistemas Y Recursos Agropecuarios, 13(2), e4835. https://doi.org/10.19136/era.a13n2.4835

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