Search
Presentation Details
| Effects of Callinectes sapidus�predator on the activity, foraging, and social behavior of Alpheus angulosus |
| Rachel A. Prostko1, Melissa Hughes2. 1None, Mount Prospect, IL, United States; 2College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, United States |
Prey species face a variable risk across habitats based on predator presence, which can in turn alter their behavior. Snapping shrimp (Alpheus angulosus)�are serially monogamous and cooperatively defend their burrows, which are their primary defense against predation. Both foraging and seeking new mates requires leaving the safety of their burrow. Shrimp were placed individually or in pairs with either a blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) or a plastic model crab on two different nights (treatment order randomized across subjects) and observed for one hour. Food pieces were added halfway through the observation. Both paired and solitary shrimp decreased foraging and burrow switching with the blue crab. Paired shrimp also decreased their activity and time outside of the burrow with the blue crab compared to the model. Having a mate appeared to decrease the frequency of several behaviors with the blue crab. Solitary shrimp may be more motivated to forage or mate search than paired shrimp, who bring food back to their shared burrow, resulting in a more muted predator effect. This experiment demonstrates the complex, interacting effects of a predator on prey in different social contexts. � |