WEBVTT 00:00.166 --> 00:02.836 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Joan Cartan-Hansen, Host: Crayfish...Crawfish... 00:02.836 --> 00:04.871 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Crawdad... Mudbug... 00:04.871 --> 00:07.707 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% These are all names for a remarkable crustacean... 00:07.707 --> 00:10.744 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% one that shows how well an animal can adapt. 00:10.744 --> 00:17.650 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% [MUSIC] Cartan-Hansen: University of 00:17.650 --> 00:20.954 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Idaho professor of biology Alan Kolok finds crayfish 00:20.954 --> 00:23.256 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% endlessly fascinating. 00:23.256 --> 00:26.226 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Alan Kolok: I think the thing that really interested me 00:26.226 --> 00:32.465 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% about these animals is both their consistency over time in 00:32.465 --> 00:38.905 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% that this fundamental body form is millions of years old 00:38.905 --> 00:43.410 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% and it has, hasn't really changed all that much. 00:43.410 --> 00:45.812 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Cartan-Hansen: Crayfish look a lot like their cousins: 00:45.812 --> 00:47.714 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% lobster, shrimp and crab. 00:47.714 --> 00:50.650 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% They have an exoskeleton, a hard shell that protects their 00:50.650 --> 00:51.751 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% body. 00:51.751 --> 00:54.187 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% And they are perfectly adapted for their muddy, water 00:54.187 --> 00:55.388 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% environment. 00:55.388 --> 00:58.358 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Kolok: He has really long antennae, but look at his 00:58.358 --> 00:59.125 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% eyes. 00:59.125 --> 01:01.194 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% His eyes are really small. 01:01.194 --> 01:02.462 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Why is that? 01:02.462 --> 01:06.633 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Well, where this animal lives, sight isn't as important as 01:06.633 --> 01:08.067 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% touch. 01:08.067 --> 01:11.604 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% So, this animal knows its environment by, through its 01:11.604 --> 01:15.875 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% antennae and what it can touch as much, if not even more so 01:15.875 --> 01:17.610 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% than what it can see. 01:17.610 --> 01:19.045 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% That's one thing. 01:19.045 --> 01:21.881 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% The second thing, look at these big claws. 01:21.881 --> 01:24.717 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Look at these giant claws this animal has. 01:24.717 --> 01:27.587 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% You might think that an animal like this would use those 01:27.587 --> 01:30.423 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% claws to defend himself against predators, things like 01:30.423 --> 01:34.961 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% large fish or otters or mink, but that's not really the 01:34.961 --> 01:35.728 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% case. 01:35.728 --> 01:39.265 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% What they really use these, these claws for is to fight 01:39.265 --> 01:40.600 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% each other. 01:40.600 --> 01:43.303 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Cartan-Hansen: It's a way to attract a mate in the same way 01:43.303 --> 01:45.538 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% big horned sheep fight over their mates. 01:45.538 --> 01:48.875 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% (clashing sounds) Crayfish are part aquatic, in 01:48.875 --> 01:51.845 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% that is they swim, but they can also walk around. 01:51.845 --> 01:54.481 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% And they have a special adaptation to help them move 01:54.481 --> 01:56.082 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% quickly. 01:56.082 --> 01:58.585 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Kolok: Look at the size of this tail. 01:58.585 --> 02:04.657 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% The animal has a large thick tail with big swimming fins, 02:04.657 --> 02:06.359 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% these paddles at the end. 02:06.359 --> 02:09.262 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% So, this animal's a powerful swimmer. 02:09.262 --> 02:12.699 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% It's not a great walker, but he's a really powerful 02:12.699 --> 02:13.766 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% swimmer. 02:13.766 --> 02:16.302 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Now the interesting thing about this animal and how he 02:16.302 --> 02:17.470 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% swims. 02:17.470 --> 02:19.672 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Look at the way that his tail bends. 02:19.672 --> 02:23.109 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% His tail is going to move in this direction like that. 02:23.109 --> 02:26.279 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% So, this animal is going to be propelled through the water 02:26.279 --> 02:27.780 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% backwards. 02:27.780 --> 02:30.383 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Cartan-Hansen: Walking and swimming backwards means a 02:30.383 --> 02:33.086 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% crawfish can keep its eyes on whatever is trying to eat it. 02:33.086 --> 02:35.722 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% And a lot of things want them for lunch. 02:35.722 --> 02:38.558 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Crayfish are on the bottom of the food chain, an important 02:38.558 --> 02:40.026 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% food source for many animals. 02:40.026 --> 02:42.729 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% And because of their unique place in the ecosystem, 02:42.729 --> 02:46.399 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% crayfish are very important to scientists like Kolok. 02:46.399 --> 02:48.868 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Kolok: I'm interested in some chemicals, some water 02:48.868 --> 02:53.106 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% pollutants that actually find their way into that sediment 02:53.106 --> 02:55.508 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% into that bottom water. 02:55.508 --> 02:59.045 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Well, this animal lives in that sediment, therefore if 02:59.045 --> 03:02.415 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% you were to look at this animal and to take out its 03:02.415 --> 03:04.384 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% tail for example. 03:04.384 --> 03:07.720 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% And run it out on the appropriate type of analytical 03:07.720 --> 03:11.190 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% machine, what you will actually find, you will be 03:11.190 --> 03:14.994 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% able to see the signature or those water pollutants in the 03:14.994 --> 03:16.362 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% animal. 03:16.362 --> 03:19.032 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Cartan-Hansen: Scientists at the Idaho water resources 03:19.032 --> 03:21.668 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% research institute at the University of Idaho use 03:21.668 --> 03:24.571 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% crayfish to inspect the health of the miles of rivers and 03:24.571 --> 03:26.139 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% lakes in north Idaho. 03:26.139 --> 03:29.576 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% These blue sparkly waters hide a history of mining that left 03:29.576 --> 03:32.512 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% behind all sorts of chemicals and heavy metals. 03:32.512 --> 03:35.048 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Now pollutants are also released into the air when we 03:35.048 --> 03:36.049 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% burn things. 03:36.049 --> 03:38.518 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% And they eventually fall back into the water. 03:38.518 --> 03:41.321 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Pollutants also come from agricultural activity and from 03:41.321 --> 03:42.522 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% urban development. 03:42.522 --> 03:45.291 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% And one of Kolok's biggest concern is the pollutant, 03:45.291 --> 03:46.459 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% mercury. 03:46.459 --> 03:50.263 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Kolok: The mercury is not going to stay in the water. 03:50.263 --> 03:54.634 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% It's actually going to move either into an animal, either 03:54.634 --> 03:58.438 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% into the tissues of an animal, such as a crayfish, or it's 03:58.438 --> 04:00.974 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% going to move into the sediment. 04:00.974 --> 04:03.309 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Cartan-Hansen: So, it's kind of a chain reaction. 04:03.309 --> 04:05.645 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Crayfish live and eat things in the sediment. 04:05.645 --> 04:08.114 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Fish come along and eat lots of crayfish. 04:08.114 --> 04:10.450 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% And all that mercury in the crawfish then gets 04:10.450 --> 04:13.519 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% concentrated into the fish, which humans consume when they 04:13.519 --> 04:14.787 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% eat the fish. 04:14.787 --> 04:17.957 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Kolok: And that can start to be a problem because mercury 04:17.957 --> 04:22.228 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% is damaging to nerve tissue, to your brain, to your central 04:22.228 --> 04:23.463 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% nervous system. 04:23.463 --> 04:26.799 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Well, if we can take the tail out of this animal and look 04:26.799 --> 04:30.036 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% for chemicals, and if there are chemicals that are toxic 04:30.036 --> 04:33.506 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% or poisonous in this animals' tail, it tells us something 04:33.506 --> 04:35.842 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% about that environment. 04:35.842 --> 04:38.845 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% It tells us something about what the water and what the 04:38.845 --> 04:42.982 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% sediment, um, looks like from the perspective of water 04:42.982 --> 04:44.550 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% pollution. 04:44.550 --> 04:47.286 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Cartan-Hansen: Kolok says citizen scientists around the 04:47.286 --> 04:48.988 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% region help him in his work. 04:48.988 --> 04:51.658 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% They find crayfish in various water bodies and send them to 04:51.658 --> 04:52.925 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% his lab for analysis. 04:52.925 --> 04:55.194 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Even young people can learn how to help. 04:55.194 --> 04:57.797 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Kolok and his family started learning about animals when 04:57.797 --> 05:00.299 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% they were young, sailing along the eastern seaboard. 05:00.299 --> 05:02.702 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% And he has a piece of advice for kids who might want to be 05:02.702 --> 05:04.037 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% a biologist someday. 05:04.037 --> 05:07.040 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Kolok: Ask the questions of why does this animal look like 05:07.040 --> 05:07.807 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% this? 05:07.807 --> 05:08.841 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% What's the point? 05:08.841 --> 05:11.244 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Why, why is it the color that it is? 05:11.244 --> 05:13.746 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Why does it have as many legs that it does? 05:13.746 --> 05:17.150 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Remain curious and don't be embarrassed by that or, uh, 05:17.150 --> 05:20.486 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% or, um, or standoffish about it? 05:20.486 --> 05:24.824 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Animals and nature is, is fundamentally cool and 05:24.824 --> 05:27.226 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% fundamentally interesting. 05:27.226 --> 05:30.163 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% And keep your inquisitiveness and ask those questions 05:30.163 --> 05:33.066 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% because trust me, I can tell you this from personal 05:33.066 --> 05:37.270 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% experience, it will pay off for you in the long run 05:37.270 --> 05:39.806 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% relative to a profession. 05:39.806 --> 05:42.208 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Cartan-Hansen: If you want to learn more about animal 05:42.208 --> 05:44.510 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% adaptations, check out the science trek website. 05:44.510 --> 05:47.280 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% You'll find it at science trek dot org. 05:47.280 --> 06:08.668 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% [MUSIC] ANNOUNCER: Presentation of 06:08.668 --> 06:11.971 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Science Trek on Idaho Public Television is made possible 06:11.971 --> 06:14.907 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% through the generous support of the Laura Moore Cunningham 06:14.907 --> 06:17.844 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Foundation, committed to fulfilling the Moore and 06:17.844 --> 06:20.847 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Bettis family legacy of building the great state of 06:20.847 --> 06:21.981 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% Idaho. 06:21.981 --> 06:25.051 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% By the Idaho National Laboratory, mentoring talent 06:25.051 --> 06:27.720 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% and finding solutions for energy and security 06:27.720 --> 06:31.891 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% challenges, by The Friends of Idaho Public Television and by 06:31.891 --> 06:35.027 align:left position:10% line:85% size:80% the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.