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Biol Bull 171: 577-596. (December 1986)
© 1986 Marine Biological Laboratory
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CRAB PREDATION ON LIMPETS: PREDATOR BEHAVIOR AND DEFENSIVE FEATURES OF THE SHELL MORPHOLOGY OF THE PREY

RICHARD B. LOWELL 1

1 Department of Zoology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, and Bamfield Marine Station, Bamfield, British Columbia V0R 1B0 Canada

The feeding behavior of rocky intertidal crabs in the tropical and temperate eastern Pacific was studied in relation to specific mechanical properties of the shells of their limpet prey. A series of laboratory experiments, involving direct observations, records of shell remains, and measurements of the forces generated by a feeding crab, showed that by far the most common feeding technique was to pry the margin of the limpet shell away from the substratum. The pattern of deformation in models of limpet shells subject to a similar prying force indicated (1) that the greatest stress on the shell was at the point of force application at the shell margin and (2) that the thickness of the shell margin contributed more to shell strength than did thickness in more apical regions of the shell. Measurements of the strength of real shells provided further support for this latter conclusion.

In addition, the strength of foot attachment, which sets the maximum prying force that the shell can experience, closely paralleled shell strength. This linkage between foot tenacity and shell strength appeared to be maintained via the degree of allometry between foot area and the thickness of the shell margin.

The potential for a particular predator feeding behavior to lead to selection for a defensive feature in shell morphology should be a function, not only of the frequency of occurrence of attacks, but also of the frequency of successful attacks. In particular, for selection to occur, some individuals must survive an attack so that they may pass on to their off spring the defensive feature that enabled survival. Compared to other crab feeding techniques, prying attacks on limpets occurred frequently and with low success. These data support the hypothesis that selection to resist prying forces has been an important feature in the evolution of limpet shell morphology.

Submitted on May 2, 1986
Accepted on September 25, 1986




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Copyright © 1986 by the Marine Biological Laboratory.