Prey preference of the stone crab Platyxanthus crenulatus (Decapoda: Platyxanthidae) in laboratory conditions

AUTOR(ES)

Laitano, María Victoria, Farías, Nahuel Emiliano, Cledón, Maximiliano

FONTE

Nauplius

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2013-06

RESUMO

The preference for a particular type of prey implies an active behavioral choice of the predator. The present work deals with the prey preference of the large stone crab Platyxanthus crenulatus among similar sized gastropods and bivalves of different substrates using a recent proposed methodology based on a two-stage approach. In laboratory, crabs received different mollusk species separately to determine the consumption in number of each species when choice was not possible. Further, crabs were offered the same mollusc species but together to record differences of specific consumption when choice was possible. Results were then compared to assess prey preferences. Platyxanthus crenulatus is able to effectively attack and consume the majority of the sympatric mollusk species, although preferred the dominant species Brachidontes rodriguezii over the others. Such preference seems to be driven by shell shape and thickness which may be a common pattern in prey preference among large stone crab species.

Documentos Relacionados

• Duration of the pre-settlement period of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus (Decapoda: Ocypodidae) under laboratory conditions
• Intraspecific interactions in the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus (Decapoda: Ocypodidae) during the metamorphosis and post-metamorphosis periods under laboratory conditions
• Grooming behaviors and fouling of the spider crab Libinia dubia (Decapoda: Epialtidae)
• Predatory behavior of the crab menippe nodifrons Stimpson, 1859 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Menippidae) on gastropod mollusks in the laboratory
• First confirmed record of the sesarmid crab, Parasesarma bengalense (Davie, 2003) (Decapoda: Brachyura) in Indian waters