Fiddler Crab Behavioral Ecology: Burrow Density in Uca Pugnax (Smith) and Uca Pugilator (Bosc) (Decapoda Brachyura)

Aspey, Wayne P.

doi:10.1163/156854078x00790

Cited by 41 publications

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“…However, the relationship between mouth morphology (number of spoon-tipped setae) and the ability of each species to manipulate and sort sediment grains of different sizes was considered by several authors as the main factor affecting the ecological distribution of Uca (cf. Teal, 1958;Miller, 1961;Crane, 1975;Aspey, 1978;Icely & Jones, 1978;Dye & Lasiak, 1987;Costa & Negreiros-Fransozo, 2001;Takeda et al, 2004;Bezerra et al, 2006). However, we found evidence that despite the different numbers of spoon-tipped setae on the mouthparts of Uca leptodactylus, U. rapax, U. thayeri, and U. vocator, all these fiddler crabs are able to manipulate sediments with different grain-size composition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sediment Particle Selection During Feeding by Four Species of UCA (Brachyura, Ocypodidae)

Colpo¹,

Negreiros-Fransozo²

2011

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Differences in sorting of sediment grain-size during the feeding activity of fiddler crabs were investigated experimentally in four Uca species that have different numbers of spoon-tipped setae on the second maxillipeds. Uca leptodactylus had the highest number of spoon-tipped setae, followed by Uca rapax and Uca thayeri; whereas Uca vocator had no setae of this type. The crabs were allowed to feed for 48 h, in containers filled with three types of sediments with different particle-size composition. The feeding pellets formed in each type of sediment were collected, and the proportion of each granulometric fraction was compared with the substrate in the container. The diameters of the sediment particles found in the crab stomachs were measured and compared among the species and the types of sediments. The granulometry of the feeding pellets in each substrate was similar among the species. The size of particles ingested by fiddler crabs reflected the granulometric composition of the experimental substrate. Only U. leptodactylus ingested the smallest grains in coarser sediments. Therefore, the variation in the number of spoon-tipped setae on the second maxilliped seems not to affect the ability of fiddler crabs to manipulate and sort different particle sizes during feeding. RESUMODiferenças na seleção de partículas de sedimento com distintos tamanhos, durante a atividade alimentar de caranguejos chama-maré foi avaliada experimentalmente, em quatro espécies de Uca que apresentam diferentes quantidades de cerdas em forma de colher nos segundos maxilípedes. Uca leptodactylus apresentou o maior número destas cerdas, seguida, por Uca rapax e Uca thayeri; no entanto, Uca vocator não possui tal tipo de cerda. Os caranguejos foram mantidos alimentando-se, por 48 h em containeres preenchidos com três tipos de sedimentos com diferentes composições granulométricas. Os pellets alimentares produzidos em cada sedimento foram coletados e a proporção de cada fração granulométrica foi comparada com a do sedimento do container. Os diâmetros das partículas de sedimento encontradas em seus estômagos foram medidos e comparados entre as espécies e os tipos de sedimentos. A granulometria dos pellets alimentares em cada 3 )

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sediment Particle Selection During Feeding by Four Species of UCA (Brachyura, Ocypodidae)

Colpo¹,

Negreiros-Fransozo²

2011

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“…In coastal wetlands, there are many different kinds of burrowing animals, including several species of crabs. Along the Atlantic coast of the United States, the mud fiddler crab (Uca pugnax) is a common inhabitant of salt marshes, with burrow densities reaching between 150 and 175 m À2 in some areas (Ward et al 1976;Aspy 1978). Uca spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of mud fiddler crabs (Uca pugnax) on the recruitment of halophyte seedlings in salt marsh dieback areas of Cape Cod (Massachusetts, USA)

Smith

Tyrrell

2011

Ecological Research

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The effects of bioturbation by the mud fiddler crab (Uca pugnax) on salt marsh seedling recruitment were investigated experimentally in this study. Burrowing and foraging activity caused a large amount of soil disturbance, which in turn negatively impacted the establishment of seedlings. Either seeds did not germinate or seedlings were uprooted or buried. Although the majority of the published literature suggests a positive influence of Uca spp. on salt marsh plant growth, at high densities they have the potential to hinder the re-colonization of areas made bare by previous disturbance. This study illustrates the perhaps underappreciated role that bioturbators can have on vegetation patterns in salt marshes and other ecosystems.

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“…Components of the environment believed to play a major role in the distribution of fiddler crabs are vegetation, substratum, food, salinity, tidal exposure and presence of other animals (Aspey, 1978;Icely and Jones, 1978;Rabalais and Cameron, 1985;EwaOboho, 1993;Thurman, 1998;Nobbs, 2003;Ribeiro et al, 2005;César et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial distribution of fiddler crabs (Genus <i>Uca</i>) in a tropical mangrove of northeast Brazil

Bezerra¹,

Dias²,

Santana³

et al. 2006

Sci. Mar.

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SUMMARY: The influence of abiotic factors on the spatial distribution of the fiddler crabs Uca leptodactyla, U. maracoani, U. rapax and U. thayeri was studied in a tropical mangrove of northeast Brazil. Eight transects were delimited in a mangrove area of the Pacoti River. On each transect, three 0.25 m 2 squares were sampled during spring low tide periods from September 2003 to August 2004. The sediment of the squares at each transect was analysed for grain size, organic matter and humidity. Morphology of the second maxilliped was studied considering the number of spoon-tipped setae to help explain the ecological distribution of the species. U. leptodactyla and U. rapax were found living in medium sand, U. thayeri was collected in fine and very fine sand, while U. maracoani was found living in very fine sand. U. leptodactyla showed a negative correlation with organic matter and humidity while U. thayeri showed a positive correlations for both factors. U. maracoani and U. rapax were not correlated with organic matter or humidity. The analysis of the second maxilliped revealed that U. leptodactyla and U. rapax show a high quantity of spoon-tipped setae while U. maracoani and U. thayeri show a greater quantity of plumose setae. Las propiedades físicas del sedimento, i.e., textura, contenido orgánico y humedad también fueron evaluadas en cada cuadrante. La morfología del segundo maxilipedio se estudió considerado el número de setas con punta de cuchara para explicar la distribución ecológica de las especies. U. leptodactyla y U. rapax fueron encontrados en los sedimentos gruesos, mientras U. thayeri y U. maracoani fueron encontrados en los sedimentos lodosos. La abundancia de U. leptodactyla mostró una correlación negativa con el contenido orgánico y la humedad mientras U. thayeri mostró una correlación positiva con ambos factores. La abundancia de U. rapax y U. maracoani no estuvo correlacionada con la materia orgánica y humedad. El análisis del segundo maxilipedio reveló que U. leptodactyla y U. rapax presentan una cantidad alta de setas con punta de cuchara mientras U. maracoani y U. thayeri presentaron una cantidad mayor de setas plumosas. KeywordsPalabras clave: género Uca, distribución espacial, factores abióticos, análisis del segundo maxilipedio, manglar tropical, Nordeste de Brasil.

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Fiddler Crab Behavioral Ecology: Burrow Density in Uca Pugnax (Smith) and Uca Pugilator (Bosc) (Decapoda Brachyura)

Cited by 41 publications

References 0 publications

Sediment Particle Selection During Feeding by Four Species of UCA (Brachyura, Ocypodidae)

Sediment Particle Selection During Feeding by Four Species of UCA (Brachyura, Ocypodidae)

Effects of mud fiddler crabs (Uca pugnax) on the recruitment of halophyte seedlings in salt marsh dieback areas of Cape Cod (Massachusetts, USA)

Spatial distribution of fiddler crabs (Genus <i>Uca</i>) in a tropical mangrove of northeast Brazil

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