Responses to conspecific and heterospecific disturbance odours in the Australian crayfish Euastacus armatus and Cherax destructor |
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| Authors: | Brian A Hazlett Susan Lawler |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA bhazlett@umich.edu;3. Department of Environmental Management and Ecology , La Trobe University , Wodonga 3689, VIC, Australia |
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| Abstract: | The responses of individuals of Cherax destructor and Euastacus armatus to water containing stressed or unstressed crayfish were tested in the laboratory. Individuals of E. armatus showed only an increase in locomotion when stressed crayfish water was introduced. Individuals of C. destructor showed a decrease in the time spent in a lowered posture, an increase in the time spent in the raised posture and in grooming behaviour when stressed crayfish water was introduced. Individuals of C. destructor responded more strongly to heterospecific animals (Cherax rotundus and E. armatus) than to conspecifics. The levels of responses to the two heterospecific species were similar. |
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| Keywords: | crayfish disturbance odours interspecific behaviour Cherax Euastacus |
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