Presentation Details
| Decision making in ecologically relevant contexts, exemplified by the mantis shrimp Hannah R.Reeb, Jon Aguiņaga, Patrick A.Green. Brown University, Providence, RI, USA |
Abstract
Mantis shrimp possess complex visual systems and can generate deadly strike forces. In systems with notable capabilities for sensory integration and aggression, we may expect those abilities to impact how animals gather information from the environment, and thereby drive their behaviors. The effects of environmental information on behavior may be especially critical in contests, where animals gather information before engaging in potentially deadly conflict. However, assessment strategies are often studied using simplified approaches with minimal environmental variation. The mantis shrimp Neogonodactylus bredini lives in high seagrass cover, yet prior studies have only staged contests in open arenas. We hypothesized that adding cover to contest arenas would alter movement and fighting behavior. We tracked their movement in grassy versus open environments, then staged contests where shrimp fought in grassy versus open arenas. If movement and contest behavior differs across conditions, this implies that mantis shrimp adjust behavior according to visual information. It also supports the integration of more accurate proxies of the natural environment into our understanding of behavior.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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