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Size-Class and Sex Dependent Variations of Burrow Architecture of Fiddler Crab, Uca rosea (Tweedie, 1937) in Sundarbans

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Excavation of burrows by fiddler crabs are a crucial component of functional dynamics in mangrove ecosystem. Eleven burrow characters of rosy fiddler crab Uca rosea (Tweedie) were compared between two biotopes in Indian Sundarbans, throughout the year. Substratum qualities and mean shore level were estimated monthly. Mean density and sex ratio was calculated. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) in burrow morphology in different size classes of the species and in different seasons. Nine out of eleven characteristics differed between male and female fiddler crabs including burrow diameter (mm), burrow volume (cm3), total burrow length (mm) and depth (mm), chamber diameter (mm), burrow neck height (mm) etc., being larger in males than in females. These can be attributed to the presence of large chelipeds in males. Although, the two sites were different regarding the substratum composition, percent organic carbon and organic matter content, soil pH and shore level, the burrow morphology of rosy fiddler crab followed a fixed pattern that did not change even in different habitat.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Head, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, India for the facilities provided. The senior research fellowship [UGC/938/Jr, Fellow (Up gradation)] by University Grant Commission to the first author is thankfully acknowledged. The authors are also grateful to the villagers of Jhorkhali and Bokkhali of Indian Sundarbans for their co-operations.

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  1. Aquatic Bioresource Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700019, India

    Shilpa Sen, Sruti Mitra, Atreyee Chaudhuri & Sumit Homechaudhuri

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  1. Shilpa Sen
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  2. Sruti Mitra
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  3. Atreyee Chaudhuri
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  4. Sumit Homechaudhuri
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Correspondence to Sumit Homechaudhuri.

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Sen, S., Mitra, S., Chaudhuri, A. et al. Size-Class and Sex Dependent Variations of Burrow Architecture of Fiddler Crab, Uca rosea (Tweedie, 1937) in Sundarbans. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 87, 327–334 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-015-0610-1

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