Burrows with Chimneys of the Fiddler Crab Uca thayeri: Construction, Occurrence, and Function

Autor(es)

Gusmao-Junior, Joao B. L. ^[1] ; Machado, Glauco B. O. ^[2] ; Costa, Tania M. ^[3]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Parana, Ctr Estudos Mar, BR-83255971 Pontal Do Parana, Parana - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Biol Anim, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Paulista, BR-11330900 Sao Vicente, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: ZOOLOGICAL STUDIES; v. 51, n. 5, p. 598-605, SEP 2012.
• Citações Web of Science: 12

Resumo

Joao B. L. Gusmao-Junior, Glauco B. O. Machado, and Tania M. Costa (2012) Burrows with chimneys of the fiddler crab Uca thayeri: construction, occurrence, and function. Zoological Studies 51(5): 598-605. Building of soil structures is observed in a variety of semi-terrestrial crustaceans. In fiddler crabs (Genus Uca), this behavior occurs in several species, some of which build structures that are largely ornamental and others construct barriers that are apparently for defense. Although there is a relative abundance of studies on this type of behavior in Uca, the relationship between the social context and the occurrence of these structures remains poorly studied. Thus, this study attempted to analyze in detail the construction, occurrence, and function of mud chimneys built by the fiddler crab Uca thayeri; these sedimentary structures are possibly associated with burrow defense. Field investigations and laboratory experiments were conducted. Both sexes were often found in burrows with chimneys; however, laboratory experiments showed that only females actively built and maintained chimneys, with some difference in the morphology of these structures between sexes. The social context had little influence on the construction of chimneys, which showed that the stimulus for constructing chimneys could be endogenous. Our results suggest that burrows with chimney of U. thayeri may have functions other than defense, and may act in regulating the internal conditions of the burrow, as observed in other crustaceans with such building behavior. http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/51.5/598.pdf (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 10/01268-9 - CONSTRUÇÃO DE ORNAMENTOS ASSOCIADOS ÀS TOCAS DO CARANGUEJO VIOLINISTA Uca thayeri (OCYPODIDAE)
• Beneficiário: João Bosco Leite Gusmão Junior
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica
• Processo FAPESP: 08/11635-9 - Morfologia externa e distribuição das tocas de Uca thayeri Rathbun, 1900 (Brachyura, Ocypodidae, Ucinae)
• Beneficiário: João Bosco Leite Gusmão Junior
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica