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Wandering behaviour of the mud-crab Helice tridens related to evasion of cannibalism

1988; Inter-Research; Volume: 49; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/meps049041

1616-1599

Y. Kurihara, K Sekimoto, M Miyata,

Crustacean biology and ecology

Burrowing and migration behaviour of the mud-crab Helice tr~dens (De Haan) were examined in relabon to cannibahsn~ using an experimental habitat simulating an estuarine area as well as under natural condtions in the field.In summer, when the population density was greater than the carrylng capacity of the number of burrows in an experimental habitat, large indviduals preyed upon emerged small ones and the number of smaller individuals decreased until total numbers approximated the carrylng capacity of burrows in the expenmental habitat.These results suggest that burrows provide protection from predation.In the field, large individuals ceased to burrow, and migrated to a brackishwater lagoon, whlle small individuals dug burrows, and became dispersed over all the reed marsh in summer.Habitat segregation due to migration of large individuals to the lagoon and dispersion of small ones in the reed marsh may lessen the chance of cannibalism.