Interspecific and intraspecific interactions between fiddler crabs Minuca pugnax (mud fiddler) and Leptuca pugilator (sand fiddler) influence species' burrowing behavior

Neylan, Isabelle P.; Smith, Charles S.; Swanson, Erika D.; Fegley, Stephen R.; Gittman, Rachel K.

doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2019.05.010

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Higher soil strengths in PIE marshes could be selecting (or influencing plastic responses) not only for crabs that are stronger but also for crabs that possess better burrowing abilities. Fiddler crab burrowing behavior is not consistent among individuals of different species (Qureshi & Saher 2012) or of the same species (Neylan et al 2019). Therefore, the more compact sediment in PIE could be selecting crabs with enhanced burrowing capabilities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, future experimental studies involving M. pugnax burrowing should in volve soil compactions over 50 psi (344.74 kPa) to display the effects of the more compact northern marshes. Sediment grain size in addition to pure com paction influences fiddler crab burrowing (Crane 1975, Aspey 1978, Neylan et al 2019). We addressed this by using standardized peat moss in our ex periment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sediment selection: range-expanding fiddler crabs are better burrowers than their historic-range counterparts

Wong

Roy

Byrnes

2021

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Climate change plays a large role in driving species range shifts; however, the physical characteristics of an environment can also influence and alter species distributions. In New England salt marshes, the mud fiddler crab Minuca pugnax is expanding its range north of Cape Cod, MA, into the Gulf of Maine (GoM) due to warming waters. The burrowing lifestyle of M. pugnax means sediment compaction in salt marshes may influence the ability of crabs to dig, with more compact soils being resistant to burrowing. Previous studies indicate that salt marshes along the GoM have a higher sediment compaction relative to marshes south of Cape Cod. Physical characteristics of this habitat may be influencing the burrowing performance of M. pugnax and therefore the continuation of their northward range expansion into the GoM. We conducted a controlled laboratory experiment to determine if compaction affects the burrowing activity of M. pugnax in historical and range-expanded populations. We manipulated sediment compaction in standardized lab assays and measured crab burrowing performance with individuals collected from Nantucket (NAN, i.e. historical range) and the Plum Island Estuary (PIE, i.e. expanded range). We determined compaction negatively affected burrowing ability in crabs from both sites; however, crabs from PIE have a higher probability of burrowing in higher sediment compactions than NAN crabs. In addition, PIE crabs were more likely to burrow overall. We conclude that site level differences in compaction are likely altering burrowing behavior in the crab’s expanded-range territory by way of local adaptation or phenotypic plasticity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sediment selection: range-expanding fiddler crabs are better burrowers than their historic-range counterparts

Wong

Roy

Byrnes

2021

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…One area of research that has received particular attention is their time budgets, which refer to the allocation of time between different activities such as feeding, mating, combat, etc (Altmann, 1974). Time budgets are shaped by a variety of factors, including environmental pressures, social interactions, and predation risk (Lima and Dill, 1990;Koga et al, 2001;Christy, 2007;Neylan et al, 2019;Tina et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavior and activity pattern of Minuca osa (Brachyura: Ocypodidae) from Ponuga, Veraguas, Panama

Lombardo

2023

BIOCYT

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From November 2022 to February 2023, observations to describe the behavior and the activity pattern of Minuca osa were conducted in Ponuga, Veraguas, Panamanian Pacific. Quadrants (5m²) over four substrate types were also laid and the number and burrow diameter were recorded for density and relative fiddler crab associations to the substrate. Nine discrete behaviors were observed, with feeding and locomotion being the most frequent. There was a significant difference in elapsed time and frequency proportions among behaviors. Combat and waving were male-exclusive behaviors, and more time was spent waving than in combat. Behaviors were displayed non-randomly throughout the observation period with highest frequency between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The sex ratio was skewed towards males (2.4:1), while the carapace width of males and females averaged 23.40 mm and 18.42 mm, respectively. Quadrants covered with Hymenocallis littoralis had the most burrows (20.45 burrows/m2) with the smallest diameter, while the largest diameter burrows were found in mixed-cover quadrants. Maximum temperature and monthly accumulated rain significantly influenced the number of active crabs on the surface.

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Assessment of distribution of two sympatric mud crab species – Panopeus americanus and Panopeus austrobesus – in a Western Atlantic estuarine intertidal zone

Saraiva,

Moreira,

Mantelatto

et al. 2024

Biota Neotrop.

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Sympatric mud crab species Panopeus americanus and Panopeus austrobesus are found in intertidal environments associated with muddy and rocky habitats in the Western Atlantic coast. Therefore, they are a suitable model system to be used in studies focused on investigating biological coexistence aspects between close species, such as population structure and habitat. The aims of the current study are to describe and compare the distribution of two sympatric mud crab species – P. americanus and P. austrobesus – based on their spatial and temporal distribution, in a low human impact estuarine complex area. The hypothesis that these two species show similar distribution, although one species is more abundant than the other, was herein tested. Sampling was carried out in the intertidal zone of a specific area in Cananeia estuarine complex, São Paulo State, Southeastern Brazil, in different periods of time for two years. Both species presented similar pattern distribution and frequency, with predominance in the middle and high intertidal zones, including all demographic categories. However, Panopeus americanus was more abundant and presented smaller mean size in all sampling zones. The pronounced disparity in size between the species suggests divergent dietary preferences, potentially related to prey size allowing the coexistence of these sympatric and syntopic species. The predominance of these two species in the upper intertidal zones was understood as a strategy for avoiding competition with the intertidal alpheid shrimps.

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Interspecific and intraspecific interactions between fiddler crabs Minuca pugnax (mud fiddler) and Leptuca pugilator (sand fiddler) influence species' burrowing behavior

Cited by 4 publications

References 35 publications

Sediment selection: range-expanding fiddler crabs are better burrowers than their historic-range counterparts

Sediment selection: range-expanding fiddler crabs are better burrowers than their historic-range counterparts

Behavior and activity pattern of Minuca osa (Brachyura: Ocypodidae) from Ponuga, Veraguas, Panama

Assessment of distribution of two sympatric mud crab species – Panopeus americanus and Panopeus austrobesus – in a Western Atlantic estuarine intertidal zone

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