Agonistic behaviour of signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana) in different social environments: Effect of size heterogeneity on growth and food intake

Ahvenharju, Tero; Ruohonen, Kari

doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2007.05.004

Cited by 21 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 46 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In this sense, a previous study conducted on this species showed that subordinate males present higher memory ability than dominants after agonistic encounters (Kaczer et al 2007). Crustaceans reduce the costs of agonistic encounters by establishing social size hierarchies, as occurs in the crayfish, Pacifasticus tenuisculus, where aggressive interactions were significantly shorter in a stable hierarchy (Ahvenharju and Ruohonen 2007). The recognition of dominance rank was demonstrated in some crustaceans such as lobsters (Karavanich and Atema 1998), crayfish (Gherardi and Daniels 2003;Fujimoto et al 2011;Sato and Nagayama 2011), and shrimps (Correa et al 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Male size-dependent dominance for burrow holding in the semiterrestrial crab Neohelice granulata: multiple tactics used by intermediate-sized males

Moyano

Lorusso

Núñez

et al. 2016

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dominance and the establishment of social hierarchies are frequently related to size: the larger individuals gain greater reproductive success, while the smaller ones display alternative mating strategies. We studied the existence of dominance and the alternative mating strategies among Neohelice granulata small (SM) and large (LM) males competing for burrows. LM construct burrows with copulation chambers while SM do not. Field studies showed the existence of a SM's size-range of 30-32 mm carapace width when they change behavior and occupy burrows with copulation chambers (hereafter referred to as the Bswitch size-range^). We found a restricted size-range in mating pair formation. Laboratory experiments showed that LM dominate SM because SM did not construct burrows in the presence of LM, and LM displaced SM from their burrows. When given the chance, recently mated SM occupied burrows without copulation chambers while not recently mated SM occupied chambered burrows. This is evidence that these males may be displaying a cheating mating strategy to copulate with females looking for these burrows: they occupy but do not own these burrows. SM can also intercept and mate females on the surface. Given the size restriction in pair formation, intermediatesized males in the switch size-range (30-32 mm carapace width) may copulate with a broader female size-range, larger and smaller than themselves. In this way, SM in the switch size-range may be acquiring a higher reproductive success by adopting multiple tactics. Male dominance hierarchies have been well documented in crustaceans, except for crabs. Here, we demonstrate male dominance related to the construction and defense of burrows and male size in the crab N. granulata. We found that small males of a certain size range adopt an alternative Bcheating^mating strategy that can enhance fitness. Therefore, although they are not large and dominant, small males can nevertheless achieve high reproductive success as a result of this alternative reproductive tactic.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Male size-dependent dominance for burrow holding in the semiterrestrial crab Neohelice granulata: multiple tactics used by intermediate-sized males

Moyano

Lorusso

Núñez

et al. 2016

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Ahvenharju and Ruohonen (2007) recorded for the freshwater crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana, 1852) that the initiator won most of the encounters, even when there was no difference in size between opponents. Possibly in the case of aeglids, the approach behavior may not be a good indicator of the capacity of a male for supremacy; other factors, such as endogenous ones (hormone levels) may contribute to determining the outcome of combat.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A high social status obtained through some advantages (size and/or previous experience) increases the animal's probability of being able to fight for resources such as food, shelter, and mates, while limiting the success of subordinates (Maynard Smith and Prince, 1973;Chase et al, 1994). In this context, agonistic behavior is a fundamental aspect of ecological theory, in acquiring resources and in sexual selection, and is an important aspect of the behavior and ecology of crustaceans (Bergman and Moore, 2005), including establishment of hierarchies, which from an ecological point of view, the formation of hierarchies seems to be a way to avoid serious damage caused by aggressive combat among conspecifics (Ahvenharju and Ruohonen, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bergman and Moore (2003) mentioned that matching animals for size increases the likelihood of longer and more intense fights than those observed in the field, where combative pairs are usually of different sizes. In the study of Ahvenharju and Ruohonen (2007), the duration of agonistic encounters had the tendency to be long when the difference in size was small. The authors also mentioned that in these cases the size of the animal is not a determining factor in establishing hierarchy, but with greater differences size has a larger function in determining hierarchic conditions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Description of the Agonistic Behavior of Aegla longirostri (Decapoda: Aeglidae)

Ayres-Peres

Araujo

Santos

2011

Journal of Crustacean Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Antennae are essential for gaining tactile information for sensing the local topography (Basil and Sandeman, 2000;Koch et al, 2006), and for localizing food and conspecifics Dunham, 1999, 2000). Agonistic behaviour and mechanical grading processes used by crayfish farmers often lead to damage to antennae (Ahvenharju and Ruohonen, 2007;Patullo et al, 2009). Injury and accompanying regeneration to body appendages is usually considered from a cost/benefit viewpoint.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of body appendage injuries to juvenile signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus): relationships and consequences

Kouba

Buřič

Policar

et al. 2011

Knowl. Managt. Aquatic Ecosyst.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Key-words:antennae, autotomy, intraspecific interaction, regeneration, walking leg Aggressive behaviour occurs frequently in crayfish and commonly results in injuries to body appendages. This study aimed to evaluate injuries to antennae, chelae, and walking legs of juvenile signal crayfish after seven months of rearing at high stocking density. We suggest that the high incidence of antennae injuries (66.8%) is related to their delicate structure and exposed position, which makes them vulnerable to damage. Chelae were more frequently injured (45.5%) than walking legs (7.8-23.6%). Considering the robustness of these structures and the scarcity of animals with both chelae missing and/or regenerating (4.9%), it seemed that injured animals were often killed by less injured ones. Antennae of crayfish with a single injured chela were more frequently injured on the side of the body with the damaged chela, and a similar pattern was observed for walking legs. Expanding on previous research reporting a negative relationship only between incidence of chela injury and crayfish size, we found this relationship to be significant for all evaluated appendages. We hypothesize that any injury and accompanying regeneration may have significant impact on subsequent injuries, overall growth, and reproductive success, and may result in death through cannibalism. RÉSUMÉ Évaluation des blessures aux appendices de juvéniles d'écrevisse signal (Pacifastacus leniusculus) : relations et conséquences Mots-clés :antenne, autotomie, interaction intraspécifique, régénération, pattes Le comportement agressif est fréquent chez l'écrevisse. Il aboutit souvent à des blessures aux appendices. Cette étude évalue les blessures aux antennes, pinces et pattes de juvéniles d'écrevisse signal après sept mois d'élevage à forte densité. Nous suggérons que la fréquence élevée des blessures aux antennes (66,8 %) est en relation avec leur structure fragile et leur position exposée, qui les rendent plus vulnérables aux blessures. Les pinces sont plus souvent endommagées (45,5 %) que les pattes (7,8-23,6 %). Considérant la robustesse de ces structures et la rareté des animaux auxquels les deux pinces manquent et/ou sont en régénération (4,9 %), il semble que les animaux blessés sont souvent tués par moins blessés qu'eux. Les antennes des écrevisses avec une seule pince blessée sont plus souvent blessées du même côté que celui de la pince endommagée et un schéma similaire est observé pour les pattes. En s'appuyant sur de précédentes recherches relatant une relation négative uniquement entre la fréquence des blessures aux pinces et la taille de l'écrevisse, nous trouvons cette relation également pour tous les appendices étudiés. Nous supposons que chaque blessure ou régénération liée peut avoir un impact significatif sur les dommages ultérieurs, croissance et succès reproductif et peut résulter en la mort par cannibalisme.

show abstract

Agonistic behaviour of signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana) in different social environments: Effect of size heterogeneity on growth and food intake

Cited by 21 publications

References 46 publications

Male size-dependent dominance for burrow holding in the semiterrestrial crab Neohelice granulata: multiple tactics used by intermediate-sized males

Male size-dependent dominance for burrow holding in the semiterrestrial crab Neohelice granulata: multiple tactics used by intermediate-sized males

Description of the Agonistic Behavior of Aegla longirostri (Decapoda: Aeglidae)

Evaluation of body appendage injuries to juvenile signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus): relationships and consequences

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About