Abstract
Fiddler crabs (Uca spp., Decapoda: Ocypodidae) are commonly found forming large aggregations in intertidal zones, where they perform rhythmic waving displays with their greatly enlarged claws. While performing these displays, fiddler crabs often synchronize their behavior with neighboring males, forming the only known synchronized visual courtship displays involving reflected light and moving body parts. Despite being one of the most conspicuous aspects of fiddler crab behavior, little is known about the mechanisms underlying synchronization of male displays. In this study we develop a spatially explicit model of fiddler crab waving displays using coupled logistic map equations. We explored two alternative models in which males either direct their attention at random angles or preferentially toward neighbors. Our results indicate that synchronization is possible over a fairly large region of parameter space. Moreover, our model was capable of generating local synchronization neighborhoods, as commonly observed in fiddler crabs under natural conditions.
Highlights
The emergence of large-scale synchronization patterns from the collective behavior of interacting agents has become a major area of research in recent years
Synchronization of communication signals associated with mating behavior is itself common in many other organisms with sound or bioluminescent signals, the synchronized waving displays of fiddler crabs are unique for two reasons: first, they are the only known synchronized visual courtship displays involving reflected light and conspicuous moving body parts [30]
We provide the first effort to model explicitly the phenomenon of synchronization of male waving displays in fiddler crabs
Summary
The emergence of large-scale synchronization patterns from the collective behavior of interacting agents has become a major area of research in recent years. A intriguing instance of collective emergence of synchronization involves the behavioral displays of male fiddler crabs (Uca spp., Decapoda: Ocypodidae). Fiddler crabs often synchronize their behavior with neighboring males both in the presence or absence of a target female [12,22,23,24,25]. Synchronization of communication signals associated with mating behavior is itself common in many other organisms with sound or bioluminescent signals (fireflies [26,27], katydids [28] and frogs [29]), the synchronized waving displays of fiddler crabs are unique for two reasons: first, they are the only known synchronized visual courtship displays involving reflected light and conspicuous moving body parts [30]. Groups of displaying males could be more attractive to females in general, or to assess each other’s competitive potential [12,25] or avoid predation [34], in a phenomenon analogous to the selfish herd hypothesis [35]
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