Effects of seawater pH and temperature on foraging behavior of the Japanese stone crab Charybdis japonica

• We examined prey selection and foraging behaviors of the crab Charybdis japonica exposed to four combinations of pH (7.3 and 8.1) and temperature (18 degrees C and 25 degrees C). The order of prey selection by C. japonica was Potamocorbula laevis, Ruditapes philippinarum, Tegillarca granosa and Mactra veneriformis. Under high pCO(2), times for searching, breaking, eating and handling were all significantly longer than those at the normal pCO(2), and the prey profitability and predation rate under high pCO(2) were significantly lower than normal pCO(2). Moreover, temperature significantly influenced the foraging behaviors, but its effects were not as strong as those of pH; times for searching, eating and handling under high temperature were significantly lower than the low temperature, and the prey predation rates under high temperature was significantly higher than low temperature. In conclusion, high pCO(2) negatively affected the foraging behavior, but high temperature actively stimulated the foraging behaviors of crabs.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

pH

Temperature

Crab

Prey selection

Foraging behavior

Charybdis japonica

CANCER-IRRORATUS SAY

PREY SIZE-SELECTION

CARCINUS-MAENAS L.

ASTERIAS-VULGARIS VERRILL

PLACOPECTEN-MAGELLANICUS (GMELIN)

MARINE

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

CORAL-REEF FISHES

HIGH CO2 OCEAN

PHYSIOLOGICAL

ENERGETICS

CALLINECTES-SAPIDUS

ESSON J

1978

ECOLOGY

V59

P211

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