Abstract
The interference and exploitative competitive abilities of three tropical hermit crab species in Panama are documented. Within each species males are superior competitors to non-ovigerous females which are better competitors than ovigerous females. It is suggested that male competitive superiority is the product of sexual selection for males to attain large size and, as a by-product, males contribute more than females in the sequestering of the limiting shell resource. Among hermit crab species, interference and exploitative competitive ability are inversely related in the two most abundant species. Selection for increased exploitative ability is suggested to be the result of being an interference competition subordinate. Since competition in hermit crabs is intensified by decreased shell quality and predators reduce the quality and quantity of shells available to hermit crabs, predation appears to intensify competition in this system.
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