Colour change and camouflage in coastal benthic crustaceans: occurrence, selective pressures and ecological function

• Grant number: 19/01934-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2019
• End date: January 01, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Gustavo Muniz Dias
• Grantee: Rafael Campos Duarte
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/00946-0 - Adapting to a changing world: how variability in predation risk and in the availability of new habitats affect colour change and camouflage in chameleon prawns (Hippolyte varians)?, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Colour change is a common process shaping animal appearance and promoting camouflage in nature. However, the relationship between colour plasticity and camouflage in the reduction of predation risks, as well as the selective pressures and the evolutionary mechanisms involved, are normally explored in a few taxonomic groups. Benthic crustaceans are interesting biological models to answer these pending questions, since they exhibit considerable intra and interspecific colour variation and inhabit a diversity of habitats, possibly requiring distinct camouflage strategies. In this proposal, I will explore three main questions related to camouflage through colour change using benthic crabs and prawns as biological models: (i) how camouflage and colour change vary among crabs living on different coastal habitats, possibly requiring different camouflage strategies? (ii) how different levels of predation pressure over macroalgal banks affect coloration and camouflage of two algal-dwelling crustacean species? (iii) how colour change can be important for camouflage adjustment and survival of algal-dwelling prawns? Here, I will use a combination of field sampling and experiments, both in the field and laboratory, as well as methods of image analysis and visual modelling to answer those questions. The present project has the potential to instigate a more integrated understanding on the ecological and evolutionary consequences of colour change, as a means for camouflage, in natural systems.

Scientific publications

(5)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

HERNAEZ, PATRICIO; VILLEGAS-CASTRO, ERICK; JOAO, MARCIO CAMARGO ARAUJO; DUARTE, RAFAEL CAMPOS; RIVADENEIRA, MARCELO M.. Inferring the mating system in the burrowing shrimp Lepidophthalmus bocourti (Decapoda, Axiidea, Callichiridae) from the social structure and sexual dimorphism. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY, v. 75, n. 6, JUN 2021. (19/01934-3, 19/16581-9)

FIGUEIREDO, CARLA K.; DUARTE, RAFAEL C.; FLORES, V, AUGUSTO A.. Ecosystem functioning of canopy- and turf-forming algae: contrasting supply of invertebrate prey to pelagic consumers. MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES, v. 647, p. 79-92, AUG 13 2020. (19/01934-3, 18/11044-2)

MIZRAHI, DAMIAN; DUARTE, RAFAEL C.; KITAHARA, MARCELO V.; FLORES, AUGUSTO A. V.. Interactions between invaders: facilitation of boring bivalves leads to reduced adhesive strength of sun corals. CORAL REEFS, v. N/A, p. 9-pg., 2023-02-27. (21/06866-6, 19/01934-3, 17/04904-2)

DUARTE, RAFAEL C.; DIAS, GUSTAVO M.; FLORES, V, AUGUSTO A.; STEVENS, MARTIN. Different ontogenetic trajectories of body colour, pattern and crypsis in two sympatric intertidal crab species. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 132, n. 1, p. 17-31, JAN 2021. (19/01934-3, 15/22258-5, 19/15628-1)

JOAO, MARCIO C. A.; DUARTE, RAFAEL C.; DA SILVA, LETICIA S. BISPO; FREIRE, ANDREA S.; PINHEIRO, MARCELO A. A.. Sexual Maturity of an Endemic Insular Land Crab: Priority Information toward the Conservation of Johngarthia lagostoma. BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN, v. N/A, p. 14-pg., 2022-08-01. (19/16581-9, 19/01934-3)