Crayfish, Crawfish, Crawdad: The Biology and Conservation of North America’s Favorite Crustaceans

Graham, a biology professor at West Liberty University, debuts with a captivating paean to crayfish, a type of freshwater crustacean. He describes his path from a kid in suburban Pittsburgh entranced with insects to a biologist specializing in astacology (the study of crayfish) and makes it clear why people should care about the health and well-being of these typically underappreciated organisms. Crayfish, he explains, serve as food for larger animals and eat dying plant and animal tissue, making them essential for ecosystem stability. One of the most industrious animals, they create homes for creatures like frogs, dragonflies, and salamanders. Additionally, they serve as model organisms in biological studies, shedding light on “decision-making, drug addiction, human behavior, and how our nervous system controls it all.” Graham laments that crayfish numbers are declining steeply, mostly due to habitat destruction, climate change, and pressures imposed by invasive species. He explores conservation efforts being taken to protect them, detailing, for example, a scientist’s work to ensure the imperiled banded mudbug in Alabama and Mississippi is protected from construction and agriculture practices. His passion for these organisms is present throughout (“I spend my life thinking about these critters”), and the text is lavishly illustrated with stunning photographs. Readers will find much to appreciate. (Jan.)