Document of bibliographic reference 287818

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Shell use and partitioning of two sympatric species of hermit crabs on a tropical mudflat

Abstract

Shell use and partitioning of two sympatric hermit crab species (Diogenes moosai and Diogenes lopochir), as determined by shell shape, size and availability, were examined from August 2009 to March 2011 in a tropical mudflat (Malaysia). Shells of 14 gastropod species were used but > 85% comprised shells of Cerithidea cingulata, Nassarius cf. olivaceus, Nassarius jacksonianus, and Thais malayensis. Shell partitioning between hermit crab species, sexes, and developmental stages was evident from occupied shells of different species, shapes, and sizes. Extreme bias in shell use pattern by male and female of both species of hermit crabs suggests that shell shape, which depends on shell species, is the major determinant of shell use. The hermit crab must however fit well into the shell so that compatibility between crab size and shell size becomes crucial. Although shell availability possibly influenced shell use and hermit crab distribution, this is not critical in a tropical setting of high gastropod diversity and abundance.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000330501000002

Bibliographic citation

Teoh, H.-W.; Chong, V.C. (2014). Shell use and partitioning of two sympatric species of hermit crabs on a tropical mudflat. J. Sea Res. 86: 13-22. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2013.10.008

Topic

Marine

Brakish water

Is peer reviewed

true