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Cheliped morphological variation of the intertidal crab Eriphia verrucosa across shores of differing exposure to wave action

Cheliped morphological variation of the intertidal crab Eriphia verrucosa across shores of differing exposure to wave action
Cheliped morphological variation of the intertidal crab Eriphia verrucosa across shores of differing exposure to wave action
Understanding the effects of predator–prey interactions at a community level requires robust information on the mechanisms determining these interactions at the individual level. Here we use the intertidal crab Eriphia verrucosa (Forskål) as a model species to examine patterns of association between functional morphology (cheliped size and form) and patterns of prey consumption on shores of differing exposure to wave action. The size and form of the cheliped of crabs are known to be related to feeding performance and thus influence the outcomes for prey assemblages. Multivariate analyses showed that the claw size and shape of E. verrucosa varied between shores of differing exposure to wave action. Individuals from exposed locations had larger claws than those from sheltered locations. This shift in size was accompanied by differences in the composition of stomach contents between locations. Crabs from exposed shores had not, vert, similar 55% more hard shell prey (mussels and limpets) in their diet than those from sheltered shores. Crabs were more abundant on sheltered shores, but those from exposed locations were larger in carapace width. The relative abundance of prey varied between shores of differing exposure. Patterns of claw functional morphology provided a mechanistic explanation for the differences in prey consumption along the wave exposure gradient, although it remains to be tested whether there is a phenotypic plasticity response of crab claw to patterns of prey consumption. The interaction between prey abundance and morphology of the cheliped will likely shape the diet of this crab species, and this may have implications for the relative impact of this predator between shores of differing exposure.
Claw, Intertidal, Prey abundance, Shape, Size, Stomach contents
0022-0981
84-91
Silva, A.C.
a278a0f4-901b-430b-beb7-3f3a2f134c4e
Silva, I.C.
2160874a-759e-4044-9754-e068e54e54db
Hawkins, S.J.
758fe1c1-30cd-4ed1-bb65-2471dc7c11fa
Boaventura, D.M.
27b71323-5219-46d2-b1b0-0e1675933763
Thompson, R.C.
d632e905-6f51-49a0-9426-13c42c3d0a18
Silva, A.C.
a278a0f4-901b-430b-beb7-3f3a2f134c4e
Silva, I.C.
2160874a-759e-4044-9754-e068e54e54db
Hawkins, S.J.
758fe1c1-30cd-4ed1-bb65-2471dc7c11fa
Boaventura, D.M.
27b71323-5219-46d2-b1b0-0e1675933763
Thompson, R.C.
d632e905-6f51-49a0-9426-13c42c3d0a18

Silva, A.C., Silva, I.C., Hawkins, S.J., Boaventura, D.M. and Thompson, R.C. (2010) Cheliped morphological variation of the intertidal crab Eriphia verrucosa across shores of differing exposure to wave action. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 391 (1-2), 84-91. (doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2010.06.012).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Understanding the effects of predator–prey interactions at a community level requires robust information on the mechanisms determining these interactions at the individual level. Here we use the intertidal crab Eriphia verrucosa (Forskål) as a model species to examine patterns of association between functional morphology (cheliped size and form) and patterns of prey consumption on shores of differing exposure to wave action. The size and form of the cheliped of crabs are known to be related to feeding performance and thus influence the outcomes for prey assemblages. Multivariate analyses showed that the claw size and shape of E. verrucosa varied between shores of differing exposure to wave action. Individuals from exposed locations had larger claws than those from sheltered locations. This shift in size was accompanied by differences in the composition of stomach contents between locations. Crabs from exposed shores had not, vert, similar 55% more hard shell prey (mussels and limpets) in their diet than those from sheltered shores. Crabs were more abundant on sheltered shores, but those from exposed locations were larger in carapace width. The relative abundance of prey varied between shores of differing exposure. Patterns of claw functional morphology provided a mechanistic explanation for the differences in prey consumption along the wave exposure gradient, although it remains to be tested whether there is a phenotypic plasticity response of crab claw to patterns of prey consumption. The interaction between prey abundance and morphology of the cheliped will likely shape the diet of this crab species, and this may have implications for the relative impact of this predator between shores of differing exposure.

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Published date: 15 August 2010
Keywords: Claw, Intertidal, Prey abundance, Shape, Size, Stomach contents

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 187777
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/187777
ISSN: 0022-0981
PURE UUID: 788d799b-3368-4e7e-8b44-a72fa573fe26

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Date deposited: 18 May 2011 10:31
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 03:27

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Contributors

Author: A.C. Silva
Author: I.C. Silva
Author: S.J. Hawkins
Author: D.M. Boaventura
Author: R.C. Thompson

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