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About the LabThe work in our lab spans the expertise of both Dr. Zack Graham—a behavioral ecologist and Dr. Zac Loughman—a conservation biologist and taxonomist. With our students, we conduct a variety of research that ranges from distribution modeling to species descriptions or behavioral experiments in the lab. Our goal is to study the under-appreciated diversity of freshwater crayfishes and ultimately protect these animals for future generations.
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Crayfish Diveristy
Crayfishes are among the most dominant freshwater animals on the planet. They provide ecological and economic benefits to humans around the world.
700+ SpeciesCrayfishes exhibit a range of colors, behaviors, sizes, and shapes. New species are described yearly.
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6 ContinentsCrayfishes occur on every continent besides Antarctica. They are most diverse in the United States and Australia.
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330 Million YearsSince diverging from marine lobsters ~330 MYA, crayfishes have spread across the globe and have survived 2 mass extinctions.
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Our Research
Conservation and TaxonomyApproximately 50% of crayfish species face imperilment. We conduct species surveys and genetic analyses to learn about populations which often results in new species descriptions.
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Behavior, Ecology, and EvolutionWe use crayfish as a study organisms to explore and explain patterns of biodiversity. Our work integrates morphological, comparitive, and behavioral data.
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Natural HistoryWe believe that the best science is grounded in the natural behaviors and ecology of study organisms. We often conduct field surveys that emphasize the natural history of the crayfishes we study.
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