Communication systems and social interactions in a goby-shrimp symbiosis

Abstract

Interphyletic communication is quantitatively shown to occur in a behavioural, mutualistic symbiotic association between the goby Psilogobius mainlandi and two species of shrimps, Alpheus rapax and A. rapacida, by the use of information theory and χ 2 analyses. Communication between gobies and shrimps is primarily tactual. Gobies use as shelter burrows dug and maintained by shrimps. Gobies sit at the burrow entrance and warn shrimps of danger by a flick of the tail. Shrimps communicate their presence outside the burrow by touching gobies with their antennae. Gobies never give warning signals in the absence of shrimps. It is postulated that the spacing of the burrows in nature is a result of the complex interaction of three communication systems: tactual communication among shrimps and between gobies and shrimps and visual communication among gobies. It is suggested that the analysis techniques used here be applied to the analysis of other symbiotic associations.