Behaviour associated with shell competition in the urchin crab, Dorippe quadridens

Autor: Chen-Chen Shen, 沈臻真
Rok vydání: 2006
Druh dokumentu: 學位論文 ; thesis
Popis: 94
The tips of the fourth and fifth pairs of pereiopods of the Dorippe quadridens are hook-liked that enable them to carry some objects. Many researches have studied the carrying behavior of this crab, but very few on its behavior related to competition for resource (i.e., the objects such as shells). This study was designed (1), to investigate the effects of body size, autotomy (loss of these pereiopods), and order in occupation of shell on the final passion of the shell (i.e., the resource), and (2) selectivity of shell. Dorippe quadridens often chose the shells larger than its pereiopod width. Weights of the selected shell were not related to the body weight of the crabs; they preferred larger but lighter shells. Probability of finding a shell did not correlated either with body size or the condition of the pereiopods. Under an asymmetric contest for shell, a shell owner stood a higher chance of holding on to the shell against an invader which tried to rob the shell. This situation did not replay in a symmetric contest. A small shell owner and a smaller invader for shell behaved differently against their larger competitor as contrast to a symmetric contest for shell. Duration of fight for shell was related to the size differences of the contestants. Under the symmetric-contest condition, durations of fight in pairs of variable sizes remained relatively constant that this parameter was not affected by the sizes of the contesting pairs. It appeared that the D. quadridens made decision on the fighting strategy by assessing the conditions of the opponent and themselves; they would fight against or escape from the opponents under different conditions. The behavioral performances observed in this crab species conform to the definition of interference competition.
Databáze: Networked Digital Library of Theses & Dissertations
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