The behavioural ecology of epibenthic scavenging invertebrates in the Clyde Sea area: laboratory experiments on attractions to bait in static water

Abstract

The responses to bait, mean reaction times and rates of movement of locally important epibenthic scavenging invertebrates were compared in static water experiments. Eight species from three phyla were investigated: Pagurus bernhardus (L.), Liocarcinus depurator (L.), Pandalus montagui Leach, Hyas araneus (L.) and Cancer pagurus L. (Crustacea); Asterias rubens L. and Ophiocomina nigra (Abildgaard) (Echinodermata); and Buccinum undatum (Mollusca). The behaviuor of animals in unbaited control experiments was not significantly different from random. Responses to bait were significantly different from random in all species, and the following hierarchy of scavengers was elicited (in order of decreasing performance assessed by ξ 2 value): Pagurus bernhardus, Asterias rubens, Hyas araneus, Liocarcinus depurator, Pandalus montagui, Ophiocomina nigra, Buccinum undatum and Cancer pagurus. Animal size (within the range selected) and reaction time to bait were not significantly correlated within any species.