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Behavioural plasticity in the monsoonal tropics: implications for thermoregulatory traits in sandy shore crabs
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology ( IF 2.3 ) Pub Date : 2021-05-04 , DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03026-z
Tin Yan Hui , Gray A. Williams

Abstract

Behavioural time budgets of organisms reflect their reaction norms to environmental conditions and, as such, indicate their behavioural plasticity. In environments which limit the activity time of organisms, efficient organization of behaviours is critical to enhancing performance to achieve necessary functions and minimize time and/or energetic costs. We investigated variations in behavioural time budgets of a common deposit-feeding crab, Scopimera intermedia, to the spatio-temporal scales of environmental changes experienced on sandy shores in the monsoonal tropics, where activity times are restricted by the tides. Activity levels of the crabs varied strongly with air temperature, with crabs emerging from the sediments only when air temperature exceeded ~ 20 °C. Behavioural water uptake increased in frequency with both feeding rate and environmental temperature, and was often followed by waving displays. Water uptake and waving, therefore, appear to be multifunctional behaviours, as not only do the crabs replenish water for feeding and wave their chelipeds to court females, but these behaviours can also contribute to thermoregulation, enhancing cooling when taking up water from the sediment surface. Such plastic and multifunctional behavioural traits are likely a widespread solution for survival and reproductive success in harsh and dynamic environments, where specialized traits are energetically costly and time-inefficient to optimize performance.

Significance statement

Surviving in extreme and variable environments is challenging due to the potentially substantial energetic cost animals need to undertake in order to maximize performances under contrasting conditions. This study reveals a multitasking strategy adopted by the sand-bubbler crab to survive hot and variable temperatures within a limited activity time on tropical sandy shores. Behaviours of the crabs are strongly temperature dependent; and when active whilst the tide is out the crabs flexibly adjust their activity times to feed, stay cool and attract mates using a limited set of multifunctional behaviours. Specialized traits are therefore not necessary to achieve these critical functions and, as such, this study highlights the importance of this plastic, multitasking strategy as a common solution for animals to endure highly variable environments with minimal cost.



中文翻译:

季风热带地区的行为可塑性:对沙质岸蟹温度调节性状的影响

摘要

生物的行为时间预算反映了其对环境条件的反应规范,因此表明了其行为可塑性。在限制生物体活动时间的环境中,行为的有效组织对于提高性能以实现必要的功能并最大程度地减少时间和/或精力成本至关重要。我们调查了常见的喂食蟹Scopimera intermedia的行为时间预算的变化到季风热带沙质海岸经历的环境变化的时空尺度,那里的活动时间受到潮汐的限制。螃蟹的活动水平随气温变化很大,只有当气温超过20°C时,螃蟹才会从沉积物中浮出。行为饮水的频率随进食速度和环境温度的增加而增加,并且经常伴随着波浪状显示。因此,吸水和挥水似乎是多功能的行为,因为螃蟹不仅可以补充水以进食并将其螯合物挥洒到宫廷雌性身上,而且这些行为也可以促进温度调节,在从沉积物表面吸收水时增强冷却作用。 。

重要性声明

在极端和多变的环境中生存是具有挑战性的,因为为了在相反的条件下最大限度地发挥性能,动物需要承担潜在的大量精力消耗。这项研究揭示了起泡蟹采用的一种多任务策略,可以在热带沙质海岸的有限活动时间内在高温和多变的温度下生存。螃蟹的行为与温度密切相关。当潮汐消退时活跃时,螃蟹会通过一组有限的多功能行为灵活地调整它们的活动时间,以觅食,保持凉爽并吸引伴侣。因此,不需要特殊的特征来实现这些关键功能,因此,本研究强调了这种塑料的重要性,

更新日期:2021-05-04
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