Teoh, Hong Wooi and Muhammad Ali Syed Hussein and Chong, Ving Ching (2014) Influence of habitat heterogeneity on the assemblages and shell use of hermit crabs (Anomura: Diogenidae). Zoological Studies, 53. p. 67. ISSN 1021-5506
|
Text
Influence_of_habitat_heterogeneity_on_the_assemblages_and_shell_use_of_hermit_crabs.pdf Download (50kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Background Two contrasting intertidal habitats on the western Sabah coast (Malaysia), one is a rocky-sandy-mud flat at Sepangar (N6°02′18.57″; E116°06′40.07″) and the other is a mangrove foreshore at Sulaman (N6°15′33.00″; E116°18′49.80″), are characterized by substrate zonation and homogeneous substrate (mud), respectively. Hermit crabs are one of the most conspicuous benthic macrofauna at both sites. The study examined the influence of habitat heterogeneity on the assemblages and shell use pattern of hermit crabs. Results The heterogeneous intertidal flat at Sepangar (five species) supported a higher diversity and abundance of hermit crabs compared to Sulaman mangrove foreshore (two species). Hermit crabs at Sepangar used a greater variety of shells (30 species) compared to those at Sulaman (two species). Zonation of hermit crab species occurred at Sepangar where Diogenes klaasi dominated at the high-tide mark and two Clibanarius species (C. striolatus and C. merguiensis) dominated at the low-tide mark. Considerable overlap in habitat use (mid- and lower shore) occurred between D. tumidus and the two Clibanarius species which appeared to influence shell use pattern. Conclusions This study supports the work of others showing that structurally complex habitats will allow habitat partition among species thus explaining the greater diversity and abundance of hermit crabs. Such a heterogeneous habitat provides a wider choice of shells for the hermit crabs, minimizing interspecific competition for the available shell resources.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keyword: | Hermit crabs, Diversity, Habitat heterogeneity, Tropical intertidal |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QL Zoology |
| Department: | INSTITUTE > Borneo Marine Research Institute |
| Depositing User: | ADMIN ADMIN |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Dec 2016 11:28 |
| Last Modified: | 23 Oct 2017 15:56 |
| URI: | https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/15103 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |