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Orientation of the hermit crab Clibanarius antillensis: Effects of visual and chemical cues

Publication ,  Journal Article
Chiussi, R; Díaz, H; Rittschof, D; Forward, J
Published in: Journal of Crustacean Biology
January 1, 2001

Orientation of the hermit crabs Clibanarius antillensis to solid and striped targets of different visual angles was tested in a circular arena upon exposure to background sea water, calcium concentrations, gastropod odor, predatory fish odor, and seagrass odor. The test hypotheses were that (1) this hermit crab has the capacity to use visual cues for orientation and (2) it discriminates between objects on the basis of visual and chemical information. Adult crabs were tested during the day without their gastropod shells, and orientation varied with concentration and chemical cue. In general, orientation increased as concentration increased up to a maximum orientation response and then declined at higher concentrations. Solid targets representing gastropod shells attracted crabs in the presence of calcium and gastropod odor. Orientation toward striped targets representing seagrass increased in the presence of seagrass odor. Finally, orientation directly away from a target (predator avoidance response) was only observed in the presence of predator odor. Thus, both hypotheses were supported.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Crustacean Biology

DOI

ISSN

0278-0372

Publication Date

January 1, 2001

Volume

21

Issue

3

Start / End Page

593 / 605

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology
 

Citation

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Chiussi, R., Díaz, H., Rittschof, D., & Forward, J. (2001). Orientation of the hermit crab Clibanarius antillensis: Effects of visual and chemical cues. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 21(3), 593–605. https://doi.org/10.1651/0278-0372(2001)021[0593:oothcc]2.0.co;2
Chiussi, R., H. Díaz, D. Rittschof, and J. Forward. “Orientation of the hermit crab Clibanarius antillensis: Effects of visual and chemical cues.” Journal of Crustacean Biology 21, no. 3 (January 1, 2001): 593–605. https://doi.org/10.1651/0278-0372(2001)021[0593:oothcc]2.0.co;2.
Chiussi R, Díaz H, Rittschof D, Forward J. Orientation of the hermit crab Clibanarius antillensis: Effects of visual and chemical cues. Journal of Crustacean Biology. 2001 Jan 1;21(3):593–605.
Chiussi, R., et al. “Orientation of the hermit crab Clibanarius antillensis: Effects of visual and chemical cues.” Journal of Crustacean Biology, vol. 21, no. 3, Jan. 2001, pp. 593–605. Scopus, doi:10.1651/0278-0372(2001)021[0593:oothcc]2.0.co;2.
Chiussi R, Díaz H, Rittschof D, Forward J. Orientation of the hermit crab Clibanarius antillensis: Effects of visual and chemical cues. Journal of Crustacean Biology. 2001 Jan 1;21(3):593–605.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Crustacean Biology

DOI

ISSN

0278-0372

Publication Date

January 1, 2001

Volume

21

Issue

3

Start / End Page

593 / 605

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology