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Variation in the post‐copulatory guarding behavior of Neohelice granulata (Brachyura, Grapsoidea, Varunidae) in two different habitats
Author(s) -
Sal Moyano María P.,
Gavio María A.,
McLay Colin L.,
Luppi Tomás
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
marine ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.668
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1439-0485
pISSN - 0173-9565
DOI - 10.1111/maec.12223
Subject(s) - receptivity , burrow , biology , ecology , habitat , population , zoology , reproductive behavior , demography , endocrinology , sociology , family planning , research methodology
Crab guarding behaviors are influenced by the biological and physical characteristics that each population experiences in a particular habitat. We studied post‐copulatory guarding behavior and the factors affecting it, such as the presence of burrows, female receptivity duration, operational sex ratio ( OSR ) and male size, in two different populations of Neohelice granulata : Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon ( MCL ) and San Antonio Oeste ( SAO ). Laboratory experiments showed that post‐copulatory guarding duration varied between the study areas. In MCL , it depended upon the presence of burrows and female receptivity duration, whereas it was independent of the OSR and male size. In SAO , it was dependent upon the OSR and female receptivity duration, whereas it was independent of the presence of burrows and male size. Thus, N . granulata males display different reproductive strategies related to their post‐copulatory guarding behavior pattern in different habitats. These strategies are related to the fact that this species constructs and defends a burrow that provides shelter and a place to mate, something that other varunids do not have.