Effects of metals from historical mining on crayfish in Madison County Missouri USA, 2015

Deposits of lead (Pb) and other metals in southeastern Missouri, USA have been exploited since the 1700s. Metal contamination of fish and other aquatic biota, alteration of fish and invertebrate communities, and public health advisories against human consumption of Pb-contaminated fish have resulted. The Little Saint Francis River (LFSR) and its tributaries, which drain the mining-affected areas of Madison County, is inhabited by the St. Francis River crayfish (Faxonius quadruncus; formerly Orconectes quadruncus), an endemic species that has been petitioned for Federal listing as an endangered species. Crayfish population density surveys and in-situ toxicity tests with laboratory-reared F. quadruncus were conducted at sites upstream and downstream of historical mining areas. These data consist of attributes of habitat quality and water quality from study sites located in the LSFR watershed, Madison County, Missouri and attributes of growth and survival of crayfish (F. quadruncus) from 56 day in-situ exposures at the study sites.