January 25, 2017
Crabs that invade smaller crab
species' habitat overpower and evict incumbents from their burrows, but the two
species ultimately co-exist and join forces against other invading crabs in a game
of thrones once they establish territorial boundaries, new research finds.
Lead researcher Huon Clark from
ANU said the finding overturns the theory that interactions between species of
fiddler crabs result in the dominant species pushing the weaker ones out of a
habitat.
"There appears to be mutual
benefits for these different crabs to live alongside each other in the same
habitat," said Mr Clark, a PhD student at the ANU Research School of
Biology.
"It reduces the competition
for mates for the larger crabs, which in turn offer protection to smaller crabs
against bigger crabs seeking to take over their burrow.
"We found that while the
smaller species of fiddler crab is impacted in a negative way by the arrival of
the larger species, they can co-exist quite harmoniously once the larger
species settles in."
Mr Clark said climate change and
habitat loss may result in more species of fiddler crabs interacting and
sharing territories that were previously the domain of only one species.
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