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Spatial and temporal patterns in the feeding behavior of a fiddler crab

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Abstract

Fiddler crabs consume the surficial microphytobenthos around their burrows during low tide. We studied the spatial and temporal feeding patterns in the species Uca uruguayensis by using sequences of digital pictures of feeding pellets accumulation. Data from 61 crabs, feeding without the interference of neighbors, were fitted to different models using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian approaches. Initial feeding location was independent from the emergence location, and then, crabs continued holding a main feeding direction (clockwise or counterclockwise), suggesting a systematic mechanism that may avoid feeding over already processed sediment. Crabs used at least half of their potential feeding area, but these areas were heterogeneous. Both sexes developed similar feeding areas; however, females were faster and needed less time to feed than males, suggesting that males are time restricted. Our work also highlights the importance of incorporating other underlying mechanisms of the behavior of species into the study of feeding strategies.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by a grant from Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica to P.D.R (PICT 2007-01488). We thank Juan Manuel Morales for helping in statistical analysis.

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  1. Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA-CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, R8400FRF, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina

    Agustina di Virgilio

  2. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina

    Pablo D. Ribeiro

  3. Grupo de Investigación y Educación en Temas Ambientales (GrIETA), Mar del Plata, Argentina

    Pablo D. Ribeiro

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  1. Agustina di Virgilio
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Correspondence to Agustina di Virgilio.

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Communicated by M. G. Chapman.

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di Virgilio, A., Ribeiro, P.D. Spatial and temporal patterns in the feeding behavior of a fiddler crab. Mar Biol 160, 1001–1013 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-2153-9

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