Anti-predator Strategies in Relation to Diurnal Refuge Usage and Exploration in the Australian Freshwater Prawn, Macrobrachium australiense

Lammers, JH, Warburton, K and Cribb, BW (2009) Anti-predator Strategies in Relation to Diurnal Refuge Usage and Exploration in the Australian Freshwater Prawn, Macrobrachium australiense. JOURNAL OF CRUSTACEAN BIOLOGY, 29 2: 175-182.


Author Lammers, JH
Warburton, K
Cribb, BW
Title Anti-predator Strategies in Relation to Diurnal Refuge Usage and Exploration in the Australian Freshwater Prawn, Macrobrachium australiense
Formatted title Anti-predator Strategies in Relation to Diurnal Refuge Usage and Exploration in the Australian Freshwater Prawn, Macrobrachium australiense
Journal name JOURNAL OF CRUSTACEAN BIOLOGY  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank C)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2009-04
Sub-type Article
Year available 2009
DOI 10.1651/08-3043R.1
Volume number 29
Issue number 2
ISSN 0278-0372
Start page 175
End page 182
Total pages 8
Editor Humes, A.G.
Place of publication United States
Publisher Crustacean Society
Collection year 2010
Language eng
Subject C1
970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences
060808 Invertebrate Biology
060204 Freshwater Ecology
Formatted abstract This study examined 24 hour activity patterns of a diurnally refuge seeking palaemonid, Macrobrachium australiense. The results
obtained improve our understanding of the mechanistic processes that are likely to underlie observed patterns of anti-predatory refuge
usage, and diurnal inactivity, in a wide range of crustaceans. When introduced to a novel environment M. australiense altered their
searching behaviours in response to changes in available refugia. These behaviours were consistent with attempts to reduce exposure to
predation. They altered in response to variation in stalk density of a vegetated refuge, environmental conditions, and individual body size.
When settled in the environment all vegetated refuges were attractive to the test species, though higher stalk densities were preferred. M.
australiense demonstrated both an active and a passive strategy of mediating exposure to predation. Like numerous other prawn species
they substantially reduced activity during periods of high light. The underlying preferences and behavioural mechanisms displayed by the
test animals were consistent with the theory that diurnal inactivity is a form of antipredator behaviour, even in the absence of predators.
Upon subsequent exposure to predation, refuge seeking behaviour altered depending on the current activity level of the individual: during
periods of low activity there was no significant change in behaviour. The presence of a predator had no significant impact upon the
occurrence of periods of high activity. However, during these periods the presence of the predator caused an increase in the time prawns
spent within the refuge, and decreased the number of transitions between the refuge and the open area.
Keyword antipredator adaptation
HABITAT COMPLEXITY
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code

 
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Created: Thu, 03 Sep 2009, 08:18:11 EST by Mr Andrew Martlew on behalf of School of Biological Sciences