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Force and dominance in the agonistic behavior of the freshwater crab Potamon fluviatile
Author(s) -
Gabbanini F.,
Gherardi F.,
Vannini M.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
aggressive behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.223
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1098-2337
pISSN - 0096-140X
DOI - 10.1002/1098-2337(1995)21:6<451::aid-ab2480210605>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - chela , agonistic behaviour , dominance (genetics) , aggression , dominance hierarchy , biology , ecology , zoology , decapoda , crustacean , psychology , social psychology , biochemistry , gene
In decapods, no analysis has ever been conducted of the force exerted by chelae, and the role that strength plays in the establishment of hierarchies. For this purpose, a device was designed to measure the force produced by the major chela in the freshwater crab Potamon fluviatile , where dominance hierarchy and agonistic behavioral patterns have previously been analyzed. Experiments showed that only in the females is strength the main factor influencing the outcome of contests. In males chela size more than chela strength is used to settle conflicts, together with other nonphysiognomic characteristics, molding the aggressive state of one individual, such as its history, including isolation from conspecifics, and possibly hormone concentration and metabolic levels.