Mechanisms of cross-shore distribution pattern of the intertidal mud crabMacrophthalmus japonicus |
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Authors: | Yasuhisa Henmi |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Hakozaki, 812 Fukuoka, Japan |
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Abstract: | In the intertidal mud crabMacrophthalmus japonicus, most large crabs occurred in the upper sandy areas. Mechanisms of the size-dependent distribution were interpreted experimentally.
In the lower muddy area, food was more abundant and crab density was much higher than in the upper area. Under the high density
conditions, interaction among large crabs became severe and more large crabs abandoned their burrows. In the experiment on
burrowing-site selection, large crabs burrowed only in the muddy side under the low density, but also in the sandy side under
high density conditions. The burrowing in the upper sandy area may be advantageous for large crabs, though food availability
is lower, because of less competition and higher survivorship under the low crab density. |
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Keywords: | activity interaction mud crab size-dependent cross-shore distribution stationary tendency |
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