Abstract
Anatomical differences were observed between sexes of P. samuelis. We measured the major cheliped and carapace lengths of hermit crabs caught off the coast of Southern California and found that male chelipeds were significantly larger relative to their carapace length than female chelipeds. Average male cheliped:carapace ratios were 1.86 while average female cheliped:carapace ratios were 1.32. We predicted that males and females would respond differently to cue waters created from their own sex. Females were exposed to female cue treatment odors and males were exposed to male cue treatment odors. We recorded hermit crabs exposed to cue treatment waters and analyzed four behaviors: withdrawn, head-extended, walking, and meral spread. Females were more likely than males to remain withdrawn in their shells when in non-agonistic cue treatment waters. Males were more likely than females to display meral spread when sensing conspecific cues. Both sexes displayed no difference in the amount of time spent stationary with head-extended across all cue treatment waters. Both sexes tended to walk more in the presence of agonistic cue waters.
LLU Discipline
Biology
Department
Earth and Biological Sciences
School
School of Public Health
First Advisor
Dunbar, Stephen G.
Second Advisor
Hayes, William
Third Advisor
Boskovic, Danilo
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Degree Level
M.S.
Year Degree Awarded
January 2013
Date (Title Page)
3-1-2013
Language
English
Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings
Pagurus samuelis; Adaptation (Biology)
Subject - Local
Sexual dimorphism; Pagurus samuelis; Hermit crabs
Type
Thesis
Page Count
90 p.
Digital Format
Application/PDF
Digital Publisher
Loma Linda University Libraries
Copyright
Author
Usage Rights
This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.
Recommended Citation
Kim, Maria, "Sexual Dimorphism and Behavioral Responses to Conspecific Chemical Cues in Pagurus samuelis" (2013). Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects. 128.
https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/128
Collection
Loma Linda University Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Collection Website
http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/
Repository
Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives