Evidence of Burrowing Crayfish in Roadside Drains
In 2019 a community forum was held in Kallista discussing Burrowing Crayfish in general and the Dandenong Ranges Burrowing Crayfish specifically. It was hosted by the Yarra Ranges Council and was presented by Diane Crowther from the Arthur Rylah Institute.
We were taken into the National Park and shown the difference in burrows between E. tuberculatus on the creek banks and hillsides and E. urostrictus in the wash of the headwaters of the creek. Since then I've been on the lookout for the mud chimneys when out walking in the forest.
During the last couple of years we've done a lot of walking around the local roads. It was a bit of a surprise when I first saw a mud chimney alongside the road in the table drains. It doesn't seem like an ideal habitat, but the more I looked the more I saw. And I guess it shouldn't be too surprising as the drains are emulating the creeks, streams and waterways they call home.
It seems interesting that some of the burrows seem to be higher up on the roadside drains embankment, while others are down at water level, in the wash, of the table drain. Emulating the arrangement seen in the forest a few years ago with the Tubercle and Dandenong Ranges Burrowing Crayfish.
I'm not sure what species of Engaeus these burrows belong to, and it'd be good to see some research interest that could shine a light. It seems that these populations are particularly vulnerable to disturbance and habitat destruction from road use and maintenance activities.
In the meantime, as I continue to walk the local streets, I'll record sightings of these mud chimneys as I come across them...
