Gone (Cray) Fishin'
Animal Science
Sean Branam
- Grade:
- 7
- Teacher:
- Lee Ann Howell
The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate which crayfish removal strategies are most effective at reducing populations of invasive crayfish. Management approaches from three locations—Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada, the San Pedro River in Arizona, and Lake Slickolampi in Finland—were examined and compared. It was hypothesized that if crayfish removal strategies from these locations were analyzed, then the strategy used in Lake Tahoe would result in the highest number of invasive crayfish removed.
What an important project! Invasive crayfish are a serious problem in Arizona’s waterways, and you tackled this issue with genuine curiosity and dedication. I was impressed that you didn’t just search online, you visited the San Pedro House, interviewed a biologist, and researched real removal strategies from three different locations. Your graph clearly shows that hand-removal during active hours at Lake Tahoe was most effective, removing over 1,000 crayfish. You also learned about the many challenges of invasive species control. Your passion for protecting local ecosystems shines through. This is exactly the kind of research that can help conservation efforts. Wonderful work!
Good job