Gastropod shell utilization preferences of hermit crab Clibanarius zebra (Dana, 1852) (Diogenidae: Anomura)

Jn Trivedi,Kd Vachhrajani,S Arya

doi:10.4038/tapro.v5i1.5656

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to characterize the patterns of gastropod shell utilization by the hermit crab Clibanarius zebra (Dana, 1852) from four different sites along the Saurashtra coast, Gujarat state, India. A total of 404 individuals of hermit crab were captured (223 males, 147 females and 34 ovigerous females), occupying 22 species of gastropod shells. Maximum species diversity of shells occupied by the crab was observed at Veraval. Amongst all the shell species identified, Cerithium scabridum (36.88 %) was highly occupied by the crab species followed by Astra stellata (11.39 %), Turbo intercostalis (10.64 %), Cerithidia cingulata (9.16 %) and Lunella coronata (7.43 %). Males of C. zebra utilized a wide range of shell species (21 species), while non ovigerous females (13 species) and ovigerous females (7 species) use a specific set of gastropod shell species. The density of live common shell species occupied by C. zebra was also calculated and results revealed that the density of C. scabridum was very high in the intertidal zone compared to other gastropods. This indicates that density of shells may influence the utilization of shells by C. Zebra. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tapro.v5i1.5656 TAPROBANICA , April, 2012. Vol. 05, No. 01: pp. 12-18

Highlights

Benthic fauna show complex patterns in their bioecological relationships and these relationships play important roles in the maintenance of different structural parameters of benthic communities such as density, biomass, species richness and spatiotemporal distribution of species (Tait & Dipper, 1998, Lawal–Are et al, 2010, Pandya & Vachhrajani, 2010; Trivedi et al, 2012)
In the present study we have studied the distribution, density and gastropod shell utilization patterns of the hermit crab Clibanarius zebra
0.05) by the C. zebra population followed by Astrea stellata (11%, χ2 = 58.1, P < 0.05), Turbo intercostalis (11 %, χ2 = 60.40, P < 0.05), Cerithidia cingulata (9 %, χ2 = 65.10, P < 0.05), Lunella coronata (7%, χ2 = 70.80, P < 0.05) and Chicoreus brunneus (5 %, χ2 = 60.40, P < 0.05), which were significantly occupied by the hermit crab species (Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

Benthic fauna show complex patterns in their bioecological relationships and these relationships play important roles in the maintenance of different structural parameters of benthic communities such as density, biomass, species richness and spatiotemporal distribution of species (Tait & Dipper, 1998, Lawal–Are et al, 2010, Pandya & Vachhrajani, 2010; Trivedi et al, 2012). Hermit crabs (Anomura: Diogenidae) normally use gastropod shells as shelter to avoid mechanical damage to the body as their abdomen lacks calcification (Barnes, 2003) and to get proper protection from predators. Shell species and shell morphology have evident effects on hermit crab’s growth rate Two species of hermit crabs (C. nathii and C. zebra) are commonly observed in the intertidal area of Saurashtra coast (Vaghela & Kundu, 2012). Desai & Mansuri (1989) have studied the different abiotic and biotic factors, like salinity fluctuation in sea water, desiccation stress, substratum preference, temperature, and pH, that affect density, abundance and spatio– temporal distribution of C. zebra and C. nathii at various sites on the Saurashtra coast. In the present study we have studied the distribution, density and gastropod shell utilization patterns of the hermit crab Clibanarius zebra

Objectives

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Results

Conclusion