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Cannibalistic interactions of juvenile mud crabs Scylla serrata: the effect of shelter and crab size
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Mirera, O. David Moksnes, P-O. |
| Copyright Year | 2013 |
| Abstract | In the culture of mud crab Scylla serrata, cannibalism is often the greatest cause of mortality. A laboratory study was conducted to compare the influence of size class differences and shelter on cannibalism and limb loss in juvenile mud crabs (20-70 mm internal carapace width; ICW). Four size classes of juvenile crab (A: 21-30 mm, B: 31-40 mm, C: 41-50 mm and D: 51-70 mm ICW) were tested in all possible combinations using four different substrata with varying degree of shelter (seaweed, plastic strings, bamboo tubes and open sand substratum) in 48 h trials. Results suggest that cannibalistic interactions are heavily influenced both by size differences of crabs and the availability of shelter. Cannibalism on the smallest size class (20-30 mm ICW) increased about 10 times in the presence of the largest crab (51-70 mm ICW) compared with treatment with only same-size crabs (control treatment). Shelter provided little refuge for the smallest crabs, whereas cannibalism in larger size classes decreased by >50% in all the shelters compared with the sand substratum. The findings suggest that both size-grading and provision of shelter could minimise cannibalism in the culture of mud crabs. |
| Starting Page | 545 |
| Ending Page | 553 |
| Page Count | 9 |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| DOI | 10.2989/1814232X.2013.865677 |
| Volume Number | 35 |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://bioenv.gu.se/digitalAssets/1522/1522221_mirera---moksnes-2013.pdf |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2013.865677 |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
