Differences in the neighborhood: Structural variations in the carapace of shore crabs Carcinus maenas (Decapoda: Portunidae) |
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| Authors: | Allan T Souza Martina I Ilarri Joana Campos João C Marques Irene Martins |
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| Institution: | 1. CIMAR/CIIMAR – Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal;2. ICBAS – Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Lg. Prof. Abel. Salazar, 2, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal;3. IMAR – CMA, Institute of Marine Research – Centre for Sea and Environment, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal |
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| Abstract: | The present study compared the carapace structure of Carcinus maenas in two nearby sites (2 km apart) within Minho estuary, submitted to different physicochemical and ecological conditions (water temperature, pH, crabs’ density and sex ratio). The carapace structure of the carapace and chelae of the crabs presented significant differences between sampling sites (t-test; p < 0.01). The SIMPER analysis revealed that the Weight/CW and Thickness/CW ratios explained all the dissimilarities found among sites. Overall, the male carapace was proportionally thicker at station 2 (t-test; p < 0.01), while the female carapace was proportionally thicker at station 1 (t-test; p < 0.001). A thicker carapace can be advantageous when competing for food or a sexual partner. We hypothetized that, since at station 2, the density of individuals was twice higher than at station 1, it is likely that agonistic encounters are more frequent, thus favouring a thicker carapace. |
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| Keywords: | competition cuticles exoskeleton green crab agonistic behavior Minho |
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