Abstract Homing behaviour is frequently observed in marine intertidal invertebrate species. This behaviour may help species to deal with the environmental variability of the intertidal, providing shelter during low tides and areas to explore and search for food during high tides. The capacity of individuals to show fidelity behaviour should be an adaptive trait, due to the uncertainty that finding a new shelter in each tidal cycle implies. Chiton granosus is a common polyplacophora of the Southeastern Pacific rocky intertidal zone. During high tides, individuals move throughout the substratum in search of food; meanwhile, they are found within crevices in groups of variable sizes during low tides. According to previous works, this species shows some degree of fidelity to these shelters. Using field and laboratory experiments, we herein evaluate the factors determining the degree of site fidelity in C. granosus, taking into account the distance travelled from the shelter and food availability. Also, we evaluated the importance that chemical signs from the pedal mucus have in aiding C. granosus to return to its refuge. Field observations showed that C. granosus presents variable levels of site fidelity covering a maximum distance of 50 cm from its shelter. Laboratory results suggested that fidelity to shelters is related to the proximity of food sources. Chemical cues from the pedal mucus could be used to find the shelter after exploratory activities during high tides.

中文翻译：

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潮间带物种 Chiton granosus (Polyplacophora) 的场地保真度和归巢行为 (Frembly 1889)

摘要 在海洋潮间带无脊椎动物中经常观察到归巢行为。这种行为可能有助于物种应对潮间带的环境变化，在退潮时提供庇护所，在涨潮时提供探索和寻找食物的区域。由于在每个潮汐周期中寻找新的庇护所意味着不确定性，因此个体表现出忠诚行为的能力应该是一种适应性特征。Chiton granosus 是东南太平洋岩石潮间带常见的多板纲动物。在涨潮期间，个体在整个底层寻找食物；同时，在退潮期间，它们以不同大小的组出现在裂缝中。根据之前的作品，这个物种对这些庇护所表现出一定程度的忠诚。通过现场和实验室实验，我们在此评估决定 C. granosus 现场保真度的因素，同时考虑到从庇护所移动的距离和食物供应。此外，我们还评估了来自足部粘液的化学标志在帮助 C. granosus 返回其避难所方面的重要性。现场观察表明，C. granosus 呈现出不同级别的现场保真度，覆盖距离其庇护所 50 厘米的最大距离。实验室结果表明，对庇护所的忠诚度与食物来源的接近程度有关。足部粘液的化学线索可用于在涨潮期间进行探索活动后找到避难所。我们评估了来自足部粘液的化学标志在帮助 C. granosus 返回其避难所方面的重要性。现场观察表明，C. granosus 呈现出不同级别的现场保真度，覆盖距离其庇护所 50 厘米的最大距离。实验室结果表明，对庇护所的忠诚度与食物来源的接近程度有关。足部粘液的化学线索可用于在涨潮期间进行探索活动后找到避难所。我们评估了来自足部粘液的化学标志在帮助 C. granosus 返回其避难所方面的重要性。现场观察表明，C. granosus 呈现出不同级别的现场保真度，覆盖距离其庇护所 50 厘米的最大距离。实验室结果表明，对庇护所的忠诚度与食物来源的接近程度有关。足部粘液的化学线索可用于在涨潮期间进行探索活动后找到避难所。