Abstract
Utilization of algae for decorating by the intertidal majid crab Tiarinia cornigera was examined by laboratory experiments in relation to availability of algae, presence of a predator, and the presence of conspecific and heterospecific crabs. Different availabilities of decorating materials had a positive correlation on decorating amount by juveniles, while the correlation was not so clear in subadults. The amount of decorating decreased with increasing density of conspecific crabs in the presence of a predator, but there was so clear relationship in the absence of a predator. The decrease in decorating under high density could be due to intraspecific aggression, because the superior crab, in fighting, was found to be decorated with more algae. Tiarinia cornigera was found to be superior to the co-occurring different majid species Micippa platipes in fighting. When T. cornigera and M. platipes were housed together, the former was decorated with more algae than the latter in the presence of a predator, but in the absence of a predator, the amount of algae was not different. Thus, presence of a predator may motivate intraspecific competition in T. cornigera as well as interspecific competition between T. cornigera and M. platipes for decorating materials.
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Acknowledgements
We are most grateful to Messrs M. Ohta and T. Yamamoto of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory for their assistance in laboratory experiments and collecting fishes. Review of the manuscript by Dr C. McLay and two anonymous referees are acknowledged. This study was supported by Dr K. Watanabe, Dr Y. Yusa and all the other members of the Laboratory of Animal Ecology, Nara Women’s University.
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Communicated by T. Ikeda, Hakodate
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Thanh, P.D., Wada, K., Sato, M. et al. Effects of resource availability, predators, conspecifics and heterospecifics on decorating behaviour by the majid crab Tiarinia cornigera . Marine Biology 147, 1191–1199 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-005-0017-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-005-0017-2