Foraging and agonistic activity co-occur in free-ranging blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus): observation of animals by ultrasonic telemetry

Clark, Mary E.; Wolcott, Thomas G.; Wolcott, Donna L.; Hines, Anson H.

doi:10.1016/s0022-0981(98)00129-4

Cited by 82 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…When siphons are nipped and siphon length decreases, the clams must move closer to the sediment surface to feed successfully (Lin & Hines 1994, de Goeij et al 2001. The reduction in clam burial depth would leave clams more susceptible to predation by blue crabs feeding with tactile search mechanisms (Hines et al 1995, Clark et al 1999a. Therefore, in the field, if fishes can withstand exposure and enter hypoxic zones, they may be able to nip siphons and reduce clam burial depth, indirectly increasing blue crab detection of and predation upon clams.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of hypoxia on predator-prey dynamics of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus and the Baltic clam Macoma balthica in Chesapeake Bay

Seitz¹,

Marshall²,

Hines³

et al. 2003

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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In general, hypoxia (< 2 mg O 2 l -1) is detrimental to marine food webs because of faunal declines associated with persistent, severely low oxygen. However, transfer of benthic production to higher trophic levels could be facilitated under hypoxia if infauna migrate to shallower burial depths, increasing their availability to predators. A series of outdoor mesocosm and laboratory experiments were conducted in 3 years (1999 to 2001) to quantify the effects of hypoxia upon (1) predation by the blue crab Callinectes sapidus on the Baltic clam Macoma balthica, a biomass dominant in Chesapeake Bay, and (2) ) either without or with a male blue crab that was allowed 2 d to feed upon the clams. Predation-induced proportional mortality of clams was significantly lower under low DO than under normoxia in all 3 years. Thus, under short-term hypoxia, both crab feeding efficiency and trophic transfer from M. balthica to blue crabs were reduced. Changes in clam burial depth due to oxygen levels was determined by establishing normoxic and low DO treatments in replicate 208 l aquaria in 2 years. Burial depth after exposure to oxygen treatments for 48 h did not differ as a function of oxygen level. None of the clams died after 2 d of low DO, 27% died after ~6 d, and 90% died after 21 d. Short-lived hypoxia therefore reduces the ability of crabs to forage upon clams efficiently and increases clam survival, whereas long-term hypoxia may increase the availability of clam prey to predators through mortality and movement to the surface. Thus, shortlived hypoxia is likely to reduce the transfer of benthic prey to higher trophic levels, although longerterm exposure may increase transfer.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of hypoxia on predator-prey dynamics of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus and the Baltic clam Macoma balthica in Chesapeake Bay

Seitz¹,

Marshall²,

Hines³

et al. 2003

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Tracking studies in the Rhode River reveal that blue crabs tend to aggregate and concentrate feeding activ- ity in areas of high clam density (Wolcott & Hines 1989, Clark et al 1999a. Claw spreading, a characteristic blue crab threat display (Jachowski 1974), also increases in preferred prey patches because of increased agonistic encounters with other individuals (Clark et al 1999a(Clark et al , 1999b.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Blue crabs are highly agonistic, and aggressive interactions appear to decrease foraging efficiency (Mansour & Lipcius 1991, Clark et al 1999b. Because aggressive interactions may compete with and be more likely during foraging (Clark et al 1999a), we expected that foraging activity for multiple predators would be reduced relative to single foragers. Agonistic interactions should be most intense at low prey densities, where competition is heightened (Clark et al 1999b, Triplet et al 1999.…”

Section: Abstract: Predator-prey Interactions · Foraging Behavior · mentioning

confidence: 99%

Density-dependent predation by blue crabs Callinectes sapidus on natural prey populations of infaunal bivalves

Kuhlmann¹,

Hines²

2005

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…To observe the movement pattern of predators, we monitored the signal coming from the telemetered crab in the enclosure during the time periods of 0600 -0830 and 1530 -1900; these are periods previously identified as peaks of feeding and aggressive activity of crabs in the field (Clark et al 1999a). During each trial, a single telemetered crab was used as an index of the activity of all crabs in the enclosure.…”

Section: Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foraging behavior of an estuarine predator, the blue crab Callinectes sapidus in a patchy environment

Clark¹,

Wolcott²,

Wolcott³

et al. 2000

Ecography

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. 2000. Foraging behavior of an estuarine predator, the blue crab Callinectes sapidus in a patchy environment. -Ecography 23: 21 -31.To define general principles of predator-prey dynamics in an estuarine subtidal environment, we manipulated predator density (the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus) and prey (the clam, Macoma balthica) patch distribution in large field enclosures in the Rhode River subestuary of the central Chesapeake Bay. The primary objectives were to determine whether predators forage in a way that maximizes prey consumption and to assess how their foraging success is affected by density of conspecifics. We developed a novel ultrasonic telemetry system to observe behavior of individual predators with unprecedented detail. Behavior of predators was more indicative of optimal than of opportunistic foraging. Predators appeared responsive to the overall quality of prey in their habitat. Rather than remaining on a prey patch until depletion, predators appeared to vary their patch use with quality of the surrounding environment. When multiple (two) prey patches were available, residence time of predators on a prey patch was shorter than when only a single prey patch was available. Predators seemed to move among the prey patches fairly regularly, dividing their foraging time between the patches and consuming prey from each of them at a similar rate. That predators more than doubled their consumption of prey when we doubled the number of prey (by adding the second patch) is consistent with optimizing behaviors -rather than with an opportunistic increase in prey consumption brought about simply by the addition of more prey. Predators at high density, however, appeared to interfere with each other's foraging success, reflected by their lower rates of prey consumption. Blue crabs appear to forage more successfully (and their prey to experience higher mortality) in prey patches located within 15 -20 meters of neighboring patch, than in isolated patches. Our results are likely to apply, at least qualitatively, to other crustacean-bivalve interactions, including those of commercial interest; their quantitative applicability will depend on the mobility of other predators and the scale of patchiness they perceive.

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Foraging and agonistic activity co-occur in free-ranging blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus): observation of animals by ultrasonic telemetry

Cited by 82 publications

References 40 publications

Effects of hypoxia on predator-prey dynamics of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus and the Baltic clam Macoma balthica in Chesapeake Bay

Effects of hypoxia on predator-prey dynamics of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus and the Baltic clam Macoma balthica in Chesapeake Bay

Density-dependent predation by blue crabs Callinectes sapidus on natural prey populations of infaunal bivalves

Foraging behavior of an estuarine predator, the blue crab Callinectes sapidus in a patchy environment

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