Red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) early post-settlement habitat choice: Structure, food, and ontogeny

Pirtle, Jodi L.; Stoner, Allan W.

doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2010.07.012

Cited by 35 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…We hypothesize 2 potential drivers of ontogenetic shifts, including breakdown of crypsis as a refuge strategy and energetic demands for growth. Red king crab associate less frequently with highly structured habitats as crabs reach larger sizes (Pirtle & Stoner 2010). Our Age 1 crabs were 16 to 28 mm CL, within the range of the approximate size when cryptic behavior may end and social behavior begins, around 25 mm CL or Age 2 (Powell & Nickerson 1965, Dew 1990.…”

Section: Crab Activity and Refuge Response With Ontogenymentioning

confidence: 56%

“…This result was not surprising since young red king crab have been observed in biogenic habitats in the field (e.g. Sundberg & Clausen 1977) and prefer those habitats over non-biogenic structure (Stevens 2003) due to foraging opportunities provided by those habitats (Pirtle & Stoner 2010). Prey habitat choice in the absence of predators should maximize foraging (Werner et al 1983).…”

Section: Crab Habitat Choice and Predation Riskmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…In the case of foraging, aggregation would increase encounter rates with resources for individuals (reviewed by Werner 1992). Associating with structurally complex biogenic habitats as refuge confers an additional survival advantage to small red king crab due to foraging opportunities provided by those habitats (Pirtle & Stoner 2010). We suggest this advantage may be lost for larger individuals, perhaps as early as Age 1.…”

Section: Crab Activity and Refuge Response With Ontogenymentioning

confidence: 90%

“…The association of early juvenile red king crab with complex habitat was first documented in the field (e.g. Powell & Nickerson 1965, Sundberg & Clausen 1977 and only recently demonstrated by laboratory studies to be the result of active habitat selection (Stevens & Kittaka 1998, Stevens 2003, foraging opportunities (Pirtle & Stoner 2010), and predator avoidance (Stevens & Swiney 2005, Stoner 2009). …”

Section: Habitat Structural Complexity and Crab Survivalmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Habitat choice is also driven by foraging opportunities, par ticularly when biogenic habitats are present (Pirtle & Stoner 2010). After Age 2, juvenile crabs emerge from complex habitats to form 'pods', mobile aggregations of hundreds to thousands of individuals (Powell & Nickerson 1965, Dew 1990).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat structure influences the survival and predator–prey interactions of early juvenile red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus

Pirtle

Eckert²,

Stoner³

2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Highly structured nursery habitats promote the survival of juvenile stages of many species by providing foraging opportunities and refuge from predators. Through integrated laboratory and field experiments, we demonstrate that nursery habitat structure affects survival and predator-prey interactions of red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus. Crabs (< 1 yr old [Age 0]; 8 to 10 mm carapace length [CL]) preferred complex biogenic habitats formed by structural invertebrates and macroalgae over structural mimics and sand in the absence of predators in laboratory experiments, yet they associated with any available structural habitat when fish predators were present. Survival was higher in the presence of complex habitat for Age 0 crabs (5 to 7.5 mm CL) with Pacific cod Gadus macrocephalus predators in the laboratory and for Age 0 (4 to 8 mm CL) and Age 1 (16 to 28 mm CL) crabs with fish and invertebrate predators in the field. Crab activity and refuge response behavior varied with crab stage and habitat. Age 0 crabs were cryptic, avoiding predators by associating with habitat structure or remaining motionless in the absence of structure, and were less likely to respond to an attack. In contrast, Age 1 crabs were more likely to respond to an attacking predator and were less likely to remain motionless in the absence of structural refuge, suggesting an ontogenetic shift in behavior. Complex habitats, cryptic behavior, and direct defense improve juvenile red king crab survival against certain predators, including demersal fishes.

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Section: Crab Activity and Refuge Response With Ontogenymentioning

confidence: 56%