Sex and burrow/chimney ownership affecting time allocation for surface activities in Uca rosea (Tweedie, 1937) (Brachyura, Ocypodidae)

Abstract

We video recorded the surface activities (feeding, standing, in burrow, mating, walking, grooming, digging, fighting and waving) of 92 Uca rosea (Tweedie, 1937) fiddler crabs, with 56 crabs having burrows with chimneys (chimney owners (COs)) and 36 crabs having burrows without chimneys (burrow owners (BOs)), and examined the effects of sex and burrow/chimney ownership on time allocation for activities. All crabs spent more time on feeding than on other activities. Females spent more time on standing and staying inside burrows than males did, and males spent more time on grooming than females did. BOs spent more time on feeding and fighting than COs, and COs spent more time on grooming and waving than BOs did. Female BOs showed higher feeding rates than female COs, but feeding rates did not differ between male BOs and COs. Thus, sex and burrow/chimney ownership affect time allocation for activities in U. rosea.