A large population of crayfish (Pacifastacus Zeniuscdus) inhabits the littoral zone of
Lake Tahoe. The effect of crayfish grazing on the primary productivity of the periphyton
was investigated in field and laboratory enclosures by varying the ratio of crayfish to substrate.
In the field, primary productivity was enhanced after GO days in a low density
crayfish site and inhibited in a high density site. These results were duplicated in laboratory
trials. Primary productivity of periphyton showed stimulation from grazer biomasses
below 131 g m-’ but was inhibited by overgrazing when crayfish biomasses exceeded 203
g 11i2. Grazing effects were also estimated on higher aquatic plant beds found in the
littoral area of Tahoe by inclusion-exclusion experiments. Any biomass of crayfish above
about 69 g m-’ reduced standing crop of the macrophyte Myriophyllum sp. Nutrients
contributed from feces of the crayfish significantly stimulated algal primary productivity.
The crayfish, both as a grazer and as a contributor of nutrients, apparently supports prcscnt
population levels and also acts as an effective agent in checking incrcascs in benthic primary
production.