Gastropod shells used by Dardanus insignis (Decapoda, Anomura) near islands in the Ubatuba region, São Paulo, Brazil

Authors

  • Israel Fernandes Frameschi Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho"
  • Bruna Campos Paula Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
  • Lissandra Corrêa Fernandes-Goés Universidade Estadual do Piauí
  • Carlos Eduardo Rocha Duarte Alencar Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
  • Adilson Fransozo Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho"
  • Fúlvio Aurélio de Morais Freire Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Keywords:

Mollusca, Hermit crab, Habitat selection, Interespecific relation, Morphometrics

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The use of gastropod shells by hermit crabs is determined by the availability of shells in the environment or through selection for size and volume. This study analyzed patterns in the use of shells by Dardanus insignis (Saussure, 1858). From January 1998 to December 1999, 386 individuals were collected from two islands at Ubatuba, São Paulo. The crabs were measured for cephalothoracic shield length (CSL) and wet weight (CWW). The gastropod shells occupied by hermit crabs were identified, and the shell aperture width (SAW), dry weight (SDW) and internal volume (SIV) were measured. The relationships between the dimensions of the gastropod shell and the hermit crabs were evaluated by linear regression analysis. Among the 11 species of gastropod shells used by D. insignis, the most often used was Olivancillaria urceus (31%), followed by Strombus pugilis (22%) and Siratus tenuivaricosus (18%). The shell of O. urceus was used most probably due to its high availability on Couves and Mar Virado islands. The most significant biometric parameter was shell aperture width (F=18.231; p<0.0001), highlighting the importance of this variable for the shell choice by D. insignis at both sites.

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Published

2014-08-26

How to Cite

FRAMESCHI, I.F., PAULA, B.C., FERNANDES-GOÉS, L.C., ALENCAR, C.E.R.D., FRANSOZO, A. and FREIRE, F.A. de M., 2014. Gastropod shells used by Dardanus insignis (Decapoda, Anomura) near islands in the Ubatuba region, São Paulo, Brazil . Bioscience Journal [online], vol. 30, no. 5, pp. 1563–1572. [Accessed26 November 2024]. Available from: https://seer.ufu.br/index.php/biosciencejournal/article/view/22208.

Issue

Section

Biological Sciences