Ventilation Behavior of the Mantis Shrimp, HEMISQUILLA ENSIGERA CALIFORNIENSIS IN HYPOXIC BURROWS

Author

Tamara L. Richter

Abstract

The burrow-dwelling mantis shrimp, Hemisquilla ensigera californiensis, is an environmentally challenged marine species due to the fact it inhabits burrows located beneath the surface of the sediment where oxygen pressure is low and easily depleted. This experiment revealed that burrow oxygen pressure (pO₂) is frequently hypoxic and can become anoxic. Average pO₂ within the burrow is between 40-50 mm Hg and may drop below 10 mm Hg even if the burrow isn't capped. When capped, p0₂ rapidly drops to 0 mm Hg within two hours. Low pO₂ does not result in decreased animal activity, nor in movement of the animal toward the burrow entrance. Hemisquilla ensigera is capable of ventilating the burrow, but does not need to come to the entrance to do so. Ventilation is accomplished by prolonged pleopod beating while assuming a specific posture, rather than by whole-body movement, and may occur even while the animal is deep within the burrow. In this respect, H. ensigera is quite different from other marine crustaceans crustaceans which experience similar challenges of low pO₂.

LLU Discipline

Biology

Department

Biology

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

David L. Cowles

Second Advisor

Leonard Brand

Third Advisor

William Hayes

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1998

Date (Title Page)

3-1998

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Shrimps -- California; Decapoda (Crustacea) -- Behavior; Animal behavior.

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vi; 53

Digital Format

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

Richter, Tamara L., "Ventilation Behavior of the Mantis Shrimp, HEMISQUILLA ENSIGERA CALIFORNIENSIS IN HYPOXIC BURROWS" (1998). Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects. 774.
https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/774

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives