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Habitat location and selection by the Sargassum crab Portunus sayi

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Date Issued:
2012
Summary:
The Sargassum community consists of a unique and idverse assemblage of fauna critical to pelagic food chains. Associated organisms presumably have adaptations to assist in finding Sargassum. This study investigated cues used for habitat location and selection by the Sargassum crab, Portunus sayi. Chemical detection trials were conducted with a two-chamber choice apparatus with Sargassum spp. and Thalassia testudinum as source odors. Visual detection trials (devoid of chemical cues) and habitat selection trials were conducted in which crabs were given a choice of habitats. Results showed that P. sayi respoded to chemical odors from Sargassum spp. Crabs visually located habitats but did not visually distinguish between different habitats. In habitat selection trials, crabs selected Sargassum spp. over artificial Sargassum and T. testudinum. These results suggest that crabs isolated from Sargassum likely use chemoreception from longer distances ; within visual proximity of a potential patch, crabs use both chemical and visual information.
Title: Habitat location and selection by the Sargassum crab Portunus sayi: the role of sensory cues.
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Name(s): West, Lorin E.
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Issued: 2012
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Physical Form: electronic
Extent: ix, 46 p. : ill.
Language(s): English
Summary: The Sargassum community consists of a unique and idverse assemblage of fauna critical to pelagic food chains. Associated organisms presumably have adaptations to assist in finding Sargassum. This study investigated cues used for habitat location and selection by the Sargassum crab, Portunus sayi. Chemical detection trials were conducted with a two-chamber choice apparatus with Sargassum spp. and Thalassia testudinum as source odors. Visual detection trials (devoid of chemical cues) and habitat selection trials were conducted in which crabs were given a choice of habitats. Results showed that P. sayi respoded to chemical odors from Sargassum spp. Crabs visually located habitats but did not visually distinguish between different habitats. In habitat selection trials, crabs selected Sargassum spp. over artificial Sargassum and T. testudinum. These results suggest that crabs isolated from Sargassum likely use chemoreception from longer distances ; within visual proximity of a potential patch, crabs use both chemical and visual information.
Identifier: 820554830 (oclc), 3356901 (digitool), FADT3356901 (IID), fau:3997 (fedora)
Note(s): by Lorin E. West.
Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012.
Includes bibliography.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.
System requirements: Adobe Reader.
Subject(s): Habitat (Ecology)
Sargassum -- Ecology
Marine chemical ecology
Chemoreceptors
Animal behavior
Animal communication
Portunus sayi -- Ecology
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3356901
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU