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WEST LIBERTY– A major part of our Appalachian ecosystem is the spotlight of Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Zackary Graham’s new book “Crayfish, Crawfish, Crawdad”. The book illustrates the many different species of crayfish around the United States and the importance of conserving the mud-dwelling animal.
Graham started working on the book in 2021, around the same time he started teaching at West Liberty. He was hoping to create a resource for people to learn about the crayfish without having to read scientific textbooks that might not be accessible or easily-digestible t0 the general public.
Professor Graham’s interest in the crustacean began when he was a child. “I was one of those kids that just loved catching animals and learning about them,” Graham said.
He also cited his Biology for Non-Majors course in college for sparking his interest in pursuing biology research. “It’s kind of always been what I’ve wanted to do, but then once I found out I could actually do it as a career, there was no looking back at that point.” Graham said.
The book is full of pictures and diagrams to supplement the reading. Some demonstrate the different colors and patterns that crayfish exhibit, with about half of the photos having been taken by Graham himself.
A really important part of the book, Graham says, is the emphasis on conservation because crayfish are diverse and important, “but they’re declining…a lot of them may not be around in 50-100 years.”
He is most excited for people to learn about crayfish populations because they have a large impact on the environment. They are in desperate need of conservation efforts due to things like pollution, habitat destruction, disease, and invasive species wiping them out.
If you are interested in learning more about “North America’s favorite crustaceans”, you can purchase the book online or email Dr. Zackary Graham at [email protected].
