Chelipeds are the real weapon: cheliped size is a more effective determinant than body size in male–male competition for mates in a hermit crab

Yoshino, Kenji; Koga, Tsunenori; Oki, Shogo

doi:10.1007/s00265-011-1190-6

Cited by 33 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Sexual selection pushes antler size toward increasing expression, but optimal resource allocation must balance advertising effectiveness, utility of antlers in combat, and physical condition of the animal. Although weapon size is widely correlated with resource holding potential (e.g.,Barki et al 1997; Pomfret and Knell 2005;Yoshino et al 2011), the value of relative antler size to mating success varies within Cervidae, influenced largely by mating group size and mating strategy(Plard et al 2011). Greater body mass is often related to dominance ranking(Townsend and Bailey 1981;Veiberg et al 2004;Pelletier and Festa-Bianchet 2006;Taillon and Côté 2006), which in turn may determine mating success(Clutton-Brock et al 1979;McElligott et al 2001).…”

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confidence: 99%

Nutrition and ontogeny influence weapon development in a long-lived mammal

et al. 2018

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Selection in male cervids should optimize allocation of nutritional resources to the competing demands of body growth versus weapon development. We investigated allocation decisions of growing and mature male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmerman, 1780)) from three regions of low, moderate, and high diet quality. We tested (i) if deer under greater nutritional limitations would allocate proportionally less to antler growth, (ii) if antler and body mass became less variable with age, and (iii) if antler size consistently exhibited positive allometry with body mass across age classes and nutritional planes. Greater nutrition increased antler allocation in 2.5 to 4.5 year olds but not in yearlings or prime-aged males. Variability of antler mass decreased with age and was generally less in more fertile regions, but body mass was equally variable across all ages and regions. Antler mass was positively allometric with body mass for all combinations of age class and region but exhibited age- and region-related differences. Our results suggest that accruing body mass is more important to lifetime reproductive success than increasing weapon size. Reduced allometric coefficients in older males likely stem from increasing use of skeletal mineral reserves, selective pressures favoring greater body mass, and possible selection for optimal weapon strength and structure.

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confidence: 99%

Nutrition and ontogeny influence weapon development in a long-lived mammal

et al. 2018

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“…In hermit crabs, males with a longer cheliped than their opponents are more likely to win a contest for a mate, although both weapon and body size affect the contest outcome (Yoshino et al 2011). Body size is also known as an indicator of advantage in contests among many animals (Andersson 1994), but among several decapod crustaceans, the size of the male major cheliped is more important than body size in determining contest outcome (Barki et al 1997, Sneddon et al 1997, Yoshino et al 2011.…”

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confidence: 99%

Rapid regeneration of the major cheliped in relation to its function in male-male contests in the hermit crab Pagurus middendorffii

Yasuda

Matsuo

Wada

2014

Plankton Benthos Res

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Abstract:Most crustaceans are known to regenerate their appendages after losing them, and the pattern of regeneration may be related to its function. The pattern of regeneration of the right major cheliped was examined after experimentally induced autotomy and its behavioral function during male-male contests for mates was investigated in the hermit crab Pagurus middendorffii. Males with an autotomized major cheliped regenerated it at the first molt after autotomy and showed smaller growth in body size than in control males. The shape of the regenerated cheliped was more slender than the original, implying that the regenerated major cheliped would be less robust and weaker than previously. The length of the major cheliped of an owner male (guarding a female at the start of a dyadic contest) and the body size of an intruder affected whether or not the contest escalated, but the major cheliped length of the intruder and the body size of the owner determined the outcome of the escalated contest. The intruder used the major cheliped as an offensive weapon to take the female away from the owner by force after the contest escalated. The owner often moved the major cheliped forward, similar to a fencing weapon, before escalation. Such movement of the owner seems to be effective to prevent the intruders from approaching, and the regenerated cheliped of the owner may not require much robustness and strength as a defensive weapon before escalation. Rapid regeneration of the major cheliped in P. middendorffii would therefore be beneficial to minimize the disadvantages incurred by loss of the major cheliped.

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“…Dominance is frequently related to the size and force of the opponents [21, 70–73]. Actually, N. smithi was not the largest of the species observed at our study site, since it is very similar in dimensions to N. asiaticum, and it is not endowed with any special “weapon” (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Interference competition as a key determinant for spatial distribution of mangrove crabs

et al. 2018

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BackgroundThe spatial distribution of mangrove crabs has been commonly associated with tree zonation and abiotic factors such as ground temperature and soil granulometry. Conversely, no studies were designed to investigate the role of competition for resources and predation in shaping crab distribution in mangroves, despite these biotic factors are recognised as key determinants for spatial patterns observed in the communities colonising rocky and sandy intertidal habitats.We studied floral and faunal assemblages in two zones of a Sri Lankan mangrove, a man-made upper intertidal level and a natural eulittoral, mid-shore one. Leaf choice experiments were designed to study both feeding rate and intra and inter-specific interactions for food of sesarmid crabs in the two habitats in order to better understand crab spatial distribution.ResultsThe two intertidal belts differed in terms of floral composition and crab species abundance. The eulittoral zone was strongly dominated by Neosarmatium smithi, while within the elevated littoral fringe four sesarmids (N. smithi, N. asiaticum, N. malabaricum and Muradium tetragonum) were more evenly distributed. At both levels, all sesarmids showed to collect significantly more Bruguiera spp. and Rhizophora apiculata leaves than Excoecaria agallocha ones. There was no temporal segregation in feeding activity among the four species, resulting in a high interference competition for leaves. Regardless of the habitat, N. smithi was always successful in winning inter-specific fights.ConclusionsOur results showed that the elevated littoral fringe was more crowded with crabs, but was less favourable in terms of food availability and environmental conditions. The dominance of N. smithi in gathering mangrove leaves suggests that this species may segregate the other sesarmids into less favourable habitats. The present data strongly suggest for the first time that interference competition for food can contribute to shape mangrove crab spatial distribution.

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Chelipeds are the real weapon: cheliped size is a more effective determinant than body size in male–male competition for mates in a hermit crab

Cited by 33 publications

References 46 publications

Nutrition and ontogeny influence weapon development in a long-lived mammal

Nutrition and ontogeny influence weapon development in a long-lived mammal

Rapid regeneration of the major cheliped in relation to its function in male-male contests in the hermit crab Pagurus middendorffii

Interference competition as a key determinant for spatial distribution of mangrove crabs

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