Predation rates on decapod crustaceans in latitudinally separated seagrass communities: a study of spatial and temporal variation using tethering techniques

Field experiments were conducted over a 5-yr period to test the relative risk of predation for decapod crustaceans in seagrass and adjacent sand habitats in New Jersey, Florida, and Bermuda. These studies showed that vegetation provides a significant but temporally variable refuge from predation in all geographic locations. Brachyuran crabs were preyed on most heavily in lower latitudes and hermit crabs were taken only in Florida. There was no observable relationship between predation rates on hermit crabs and presumed antipredatory architectures or ornamentation of their shells. Spatial and temporal variation in predation risk of the nature we observed should influence both life history characteristics and the behavioral ecology of prey species.