Crayfish bury their own exuviae: a newly discovered behavioral pattern in decapods

Buřič, Miloš; Fořt, Martin; Bláha, Martin; Veselý, Lukáš; Kozák, Pavel; Kouba, Antonín

doi:10.1186/s40064-016-3343-6

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…This behaviour might be a two‐pronged strategy, self‐protective to hide recently moulted individuals that are vulnerable to predation, as well as a foraging strategy to catch and retain minerals that are expanded during the moulting process (Buřič et al . 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Crayfish moult to grow and, during moulting, individuals are more vulnerable to predation because they are unable to defend themselves until the new exoskeleton has calcified (Romano & Zeng 2017). Crayfish are also known to bury and later feed on their own exuviae (shed exoskeleton) soon after moulting (Buřič et al 2016). This behaviour might be a two-pronged strategy, self-protective to hide recently moulted individuals that are vulnerable to predation, as well as a foraging strategy to catch and retain minerals that are expanded during the moulting process (Buřič et al 2016).…”

Section: Effect Of Ontogeny Habitat and Seasonality On Redclaw Crayfi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Crayfish are also known to bury and later feed on their own exuviae (shed exoskeleton) soon after moulting (Buřič et al 2016). This behaviour might be a two-pronged strategy, self-protective to hide recently moulted individuals that are vulnerable to predation, as well as a foraging strategy to catch and retain minerals that are expanded during the moulting process (Buřič et al 2016).…”

Section: Effect Of Ontogeny Habitat and Seasonality On Redclaw Crayfi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trophic niche of an invasive generalist consumer: Australian redclaw crayfish,Cherax quadricarinatus, in the Inkomati River Basin, South Africa

et al. 2022

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Trophic niche analysis can be used to assess ecological opportunities available to alien species in areas of introduction that might aid their establishment, define their functional role and inform on their potential impacts. This study assessed the trophic niche utilized by an invasive population of the Australian redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, in the Inkomati River Basin, South Africa. It evaluated the hypothesis that the euryphagous feeding strategy of redclaw crayfish may allow it to shift its niche width and niche position by altering its feeding strategy in response to fluctuations in resource availability. Gut content and stable isotope analyses were used to determine trophic niche and trophic interactions. Redclaw crayfish were shown to be omnivores and their diet consisted mainly of algae, plant material and invertebrates. Small‐sized individuals had a constricted niche width and fed primarily on invertebrates, whereas larger individuals expanded their niche width to include larger proportions of plant material. Crayfish caught from lotic environments had a higher proportion of invertebrates in their diet than crayfish from lentic environments, and the species exploited a wider niche in summer than in winter. These differences are likely related to differences in productivity amongst habitats and fluctuations in resource availability. There was significant niche overlap (>60%) between redclaw crayfish and Sidney's river crab (Potamonautes sidneyi), but not with other native invertebrates. Both species are omnivores and have similar functional roles, possibly making redclaw crayfish functionally redundant in this ecosystem. Even though both species mainly feed on resources (plant material and invertebrates) that are not normally limiting, the redclaw crayfish invasion might be an accelerator of ecosystem processes such as shredding and decomposition rates of plant material. There is, therefore, a need for further studies to examine potentially altered ecosystem functions caused by redclaw crayfish invasion in the Inkomati River system.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Effect Of Ontogeny Habitat and Seasonality On Redclaw Crayfi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Effect Of Ontogeny Habitat and Seasonality On Redclaw Crayfi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trophic niche of an invasive generalist consumer: Australian redclaw crayfish,Cherax quadricarinatus, in the Inkomati River Basin, South Africa

et al. 2022

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Evolution of egg deposition strategies, exaptations of exuvia, and thanatochresis in tardigrades

Guidetti

2024

Org Divers Evol

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The cuticle is the tardigrade exoskeleton that, limiting animal growth, needs to be periodically shed. New cuticles must be formed (within the old ones) before getting rid of the obsolete exoskeletons at the end of moulting process. After ecdysis (the release of the old cuticle), the exuvia has different destinies according to tardigrade evolutionary lines. In the marine tardigrades (Heterotardigrada), the exuvia is lost and useless, while in the other taxa, it acquires interesting uses to be considered exaptations, since the cuticle previously shaped by natural selection for a function (i.e. as exoskeleton) is coopted for new adaptive scopes. These are related to egg deposition, parental care, mating, and diapause. Egg deposition within the exuvia is one of the three different egg deposition strategies developed by tardigrades: smooth eggs can be laid freely or within the exuvia, while ornamented eggs are laid freely. A new scenario for the evolution of such egg deposition strategies is characterised by five schematic steps: smooth eggs laid freely (ancestral state), synchronization of egg maturation with moulting (developed in tardigrade ancestor in sea), use of the exuvia for oviposition (for enhanced mechanical and physiological egg protection), acquisition of egg ornamentation, and ornamented eggs laid freely (related to a risk-spreading strategy). An interesting thanatochresis case related to the release of free eggs in crustaceans exuviae, convergently developed in two distant taxa of eu- and heterotardigrades, is presented and discussed.

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Communication, behaviour, and decision making in crayfish: A review

Kubec

Kouba

Buřič

2019

Zoologischer Anzeiger

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Crayfish bury their own exuviae: a newly discovered behavioral pattern in decapods

Cited by 4 publications

References 12 publications

Trophic niche of an invasive generalist consumer: Australian redclaw crayfish,Cherax quadricarinatus, in the Inkomati River Basin, South Africa

Trophic niche of an invasive generalist consumer: Australian redclaw crayfish,Cherax quadricarinatus, in the Inkomati River Basin, South Africa

Evolution of egg deposition strategies, exaptations of exuvia, and thanatochresis in tardigrades

Communication, behaviour, and decision making in crayfish: A review

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