Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Effects of Interspecific Competition on Fitness of the Hermit Crab Clibanarius Tricolor

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bach, C; Hazlett, B; Rittschof, D
Published in: Ecology
May 1976

Clibanarius tricolor overlaps strongly in shell utilization with the other common species of intertidal hermit crabs found in the Florida Keys. Laboratory observations indicated C. tricolor can dominate Clibanarius antillensis in shell fights, while Calcinus tibicen dominates C. tricolor. In micro—areas of sympatry with C. antillensis, C. tricolor's shell fit is better and egg production parameters not affected when compared to adjacent areas where only C. tricolor occurs. Sympatry with Calcinus tibicien in a poorer shell fit, a smaller shell size for a given size crab, a smaller mean size of crab, and a disruption of the relationship between clutch size and crab size:shell weight ratio. A strong effect of shell species on the probability of ♀ ♀ being ovigerous was noted. It is suggested that the ecological separation which characterizes these species over most of their ranges was an evolutionary response, in part, to the effects of interspecific shell competition.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ecology

DOI

EISSN

1939-9170

ISSN

0012-9658

Publication Date

May 1976

Volume

57

Issue

3

Start / End Page

579 / 586

Publisher

Wiley

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology
  • 0501 Ecological Applications
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Bach, C., Hazlett, B., & Rittschof, D. (1976). Effects of Interspecific Competition on Fitness of the Hermit Crab Clibanarius Tricolor. Ecology, 57(3), 579–586. https://doi.org/10.2307/1936442
Bach, Catherine, Brian Hazlett, and Dan Rittschof. “Effects of Interspecific Competition on Fitness of the Hermit Crab Clibanarius Tricolor.” Ecology 57, no. 3 (May 1976): 579–86. https://doi.org/10.2307/1936442.
Bach C, Hazlett B, Rittschof D. Effects of Interspecific Competition on Fitness of the Hermit Crab Clibanarius Tricolor. Ecology. 1976 May;57(3):579–86.
Bach, Catherine, et al. “Effects of Interspecific Competition on Fitness of the Hermit Crab Clibanarius Tricolor.” Ecology, vol. 57, no. 3, Wiley, May 1976, pp. 579–86. Crossref, doi:10.2307/1936442.
Bach C, Hazlett B, Rittschof D. Effects of Interspecific Competition on Fitness of the Hermit Crab Clibanarius Tricolor. Ecology. Wiley; 1976 May;57(3):579–586.
Journal cover image

Published In

Ecology

DOI

EISSN

1939-9170

ISSN

0012-9658

Publication Date

May 1976

Volume

57

Issue

3

Start / End Page

579 / 586

Publisher

Wiley

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology
  • 0501 Ecological Applications