Shell use and partitioning of two sympatric species of hermit crabs on a tropical mudflat

Teoh, Hong Wooi; Chong, Ving Ching

doi:10.1016/j.seares.2013.10.008

Cited by 15 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Males and females had different shell occupancy patterns, which have already been reported in other studies (Sant'Anna et al 2006b;Fantucci et al 2008;Mantelatto et al 2010;Teoh and Chong 2014). This might be explained by the difference in energy expenditure, that males possibly have a higher growth rate than females, since females would be investing more energy in reproduction; and this reduces competition for shell occupancy (Mantelatto et al 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

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Gastropod shell utilisation pattern by the hermit crabClibanarius symmetricus(Anomura: Diogenidae) in an Equatorial Amazon estuary

Rodrigues

Martinelli-Lemos

2016

Journal of Natural History

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Clibanarius symmetricus is a diogenid hermit crab that is highly abundant in rocky intertidal environments, including the rock outcrops of Amazon estuaries. This study characterises the C. symmetricus shell utilisation pattern in the Marapanim River estuary, Pará, Equatorial Amazon, based on the hypothesis that occupancy patterns would differ, in relation to biometry and diversity of occupied shells, from those of other regions in the range of this species due to the distinct and unique environmental characteristics of equatorial estuaries. Monthly samplings were carried out from August 2006 to July 2007, in the upper and lower areas of the mid-littoral during low tides. A total of seven gastropod species were found as shells occupied by hermit crabs: 93.33% were Thaisella trinitatensis shells, 2.00% Nassarius vibex, 2.00% Neritina virginea, 1.33% Natica marochiensis, 0.67% Parvanachis obesa, and, occasionally, Littorina flava and Phalium granulatum shells, each with only one occurrence (0.33%). Juveniles [cephalothoracic shield length (CL) of less than 3.6 mm] occupied a higher variety of shells, while adults occupied shells with larger meristic variation. Males occupied larger shells. The length of the animal was influenced by shell measurements (total width, aperture width and weight). Clibanarius symmetricus showed occupancy patterns generally similar to those of specimens of the same species previously studied in the Brazilian subtropical region, and this occupancy is explained by shell availability, shell size and weight, and hermit size. However, this study showed lower occupied shell species diversity, and the species with highest occupancy frequency (T. trinitatensis) was not reported in any previous studies on this hermit crab. In addition, the studied population differed in occupancy patterns, with differences between males and females, and between juveniles and adults.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

“…This agrees with Turra and Leite (2004), who proposed that shell occupancy by the hermit crab C. symmetricus (vittatus) is more related to shell architecture than to shell length or weight. Moreover, the degree of shell elongation or spiralisation can be an important factor in shell use by hermit crabs (Teoh and Chong 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gastropod shell utilisation pattern by the hermit crabClibanarius symmetricus(Anomura: Diogenidae) in an Equatorial Amazon estuary

Rodrigues

Martinelli-Lemos

2016

Journal of Natural History

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“…Later, the abdomen of the crabs was pulled out of the shells by twisting the animal slowly against the direction of shell spiral. A light hammer (Teoh et al, 2014) was used to crack the shell in difficult cases. The specimens were identified using the key (Alcock 1905;McLaughlin.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Records of Hermit Crab (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) From Maharashtra Coast of India

Nirmal¹,

Jaiswar²,

Chakraborty³

et al. 2017

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci

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“…The available literature on both macro-and micro-habitat preferences of hermit crabs including shell use pattern may indicate adaptations to reduce interspecific competition (Leite et al 1998). Habitat partitioning has been demonstrated since closely related species show variable use of gastropod shells depending on the shell size, shape and availability (Teoh and Chong 2014), while a more heterogenous habitat provides more niches and ways to exploit the available resources (Bazzaz 1975).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since they rely on empty shells and rarely predate on gastropods or remove the flesh from dead gastropods, hermit crabs compete intraor interspecifically for the shell resource (Bach et al 1976). Although the availability of empty shells may be subjected to advective forces such as tides and waves as well as the hermit crabs themselves, the co-occurring assemblage of living gastropods typically reflects the availability of shells in intertidal mud habitats (Teoh and Chong 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of habitat heterogeneity on the assemblages and shell use of hermit crabs (Anomura: Diogenidae)

2014

Self Cite

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Background: Two contrasting intertidal habitats on the western Sabah coast (Malaysia), one is a rocky-sandy-mud flat at Sepangar (N6°02′18.57″; E116°06′40.07″) and the other is a mangrove foreshore at Sulaman (N6°15′33.00″; E116°18′49.80″), are characterized by substrate zonation and homogeneous substrate (mud), respectively. Hermit crabs are one of the most conspicuous benthic macrofauna at both sites. The study examined the influence of habitat heterogeneity on the assemblages and shell use pattern of hermit crabs. Results: The heterogeneous intertidal flat at Sepangar (five species) supported a higher diversity and abundance of hermit crabs compared to Sulaman mangrove foreshore (two species). Hermit crabs at Sepangar used a greater variety of shells (30 species) compared to those at Sulaman (two species). Zonation of hermit crab species occurred at Sepangar where Diogenes klaasi dominated at the high-tide mark and two Clibanarius species (C. striolatus and C. merguiensis) dominated at the low-tide mark. Considerable overlap in habitat use (mid-and lower shore) occurred between D. tumidus and the two Clibanarius species which appeared to influence shell use pattern. Conclusions: This study supports the work of others showing that structurally complex habitats will allow habitat partition among species thus explaining the greater diversity and abundance of hermit crabs. Such a heterogeneous habitat provides a wider choice of shells for the hermit crabs, minimizing interspecific competition for the available shell resources.

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Shell use and partitioning of two sympatric species of hermit crabs on a tropical mudflat

Cited by 15 publications

References 34 publications

Gastropod shell utilisation pattern by the hermit crabClibanarius symmetricus(Anomura: Diogenidae) in an Equatorial Amazon estuary

Gastropod shell utilisation pattern by the hermit crabClibanarius symmetricus(Anomura: Diogenidae) in an Equatorial Amazon estuary

New Records of Hermit Crab (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) From Maharashtra Coast of India

Influence of habitat heterogeneity on the assemblages and shell use of hermit crabs (Anomura: Diogenidae)

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