西沙群岛两种寄居蟹对定居螺壳的选择偏好的研究

A study of shell-selection preference of two species hermit crab in the Xisha Islands

为研究寄居蟹在选择定居螺壳时的行为和相关因素,采集了西沙潮间带区域的81个腹足纲动物空壳和72只寄居蟹样本,对两种寄居蟹和金口蝾螺螺壳的形态学参数进行测量和统计学分析,获得如下结果:在环境中螺壳种类和数量相对丰富时,畸形真寄居蟹和光螯硬壳寄居蟹均偏好选择蝾螺科物种的螺壳定居,特别是金口蝾螺的螺壳更易成为两种寄居蟹的定居场所。形态参数的统计显示两者在选择定居螺壳时,在壳重、壳长、壳宽、壳高、壳口长和壳口宽等方面存在显著差异。标准化数据表明,两种寄居蟹在螺壳体型选择上存在差异,畸形真寄居蟹以头胸甲长与其选择螺壳的壳长的比值为主要参考,而光螯硬壳寄居蟹以鳌足宽度与螺壳的壳宽、壳高、壳口长等比值为主要考虑因素。

To investigate the behavior and related factors of hermit crabs in selecting shells for settlement,this study collected 81 empty gastropod shells and 72 hermit crab samples from the intertidal zone of the Xisha Islands.Results obtained through morphometric measurements and statistical methods on two species of hermit crabs and the shells of Turbo argyrostomus show that in the environments where the types and abundance of shells are relatively rich,both Dardanus deformi and Calcinus laevimanus preferentially choose shells from the family Turbinidae for settlement.Specifically,the shells of T.argyrostomus are more likely to become settlement sites for both hermit crab species.Statistical analysis of morphological parameters reveals significant differences between the two species in shell weight,shell length,shell width,shell height,aperture length,and aperture width during shell selection.Standardized data indicate differences in shell size preferences between the two hermit crab species.D.deformi primarily considers the ratio of cephalothoracic length to shell length,while C.laevimanus focuses on the ratios of cheliped width to shell width,shell height,and aperture length.In summary,this study provides an in-depth exploration of the complex process of hermit crab shell selection,revealing differences in shell preferences among different hermit crab species.The findings contribute valuable insights into the ecological behavior of hermit crabs,aiding in understanding their roles and adaptive mechanisms in intertidal ecosystems.