Data

Visually mediated species recognition in the fiddler crab Uca mjoebergi

Australian Ocean Data Network
Detto, Tanya ; Backwell, Patricia, Dr ; Zeil, Jochen, Dr ; Hemmi, Jan, Dr
Viewed: [[ro.stat.viewed]] Cited: [[ro.stat.cited]] Accessed: [[ro.stat.accessed]]
ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2FANDS&rft_id=https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/68ae8ad0-3ffc-11dc-b6a8-00188b4c0af8&rft.title=Visually mediated species recognition in the fiddler crab Uca mjoebergi&rft.identifier=https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/68ae8ad0-3ffc-11dc-b6a8-00188b4c0af8&rft.description=Mating signals are often directed at numerous senses, and provide information about species identity, gender, receptiveness, individual identity and mate quality. Male fiddler crabs of the species Uca mjoebergi typically have an enlarged yellow claw which they use for fighting and attracting a mate using a waving action. Experiments were conducted between Sept 03' to Jan '04 in the vicinity of the mangrove boardwalk in the East Point Reserve, Darwin, NT. The experiment was designed to demonstrate the use of claw colouration as a species recognition signal in the fiddler crab Uca mjoebergi. To test this, females were given a choice between size-matched, and handed matched U.signata and U.mjoebergi males. The colour of the males claw was manipulated using Dulux Tinytin gloss enamel paint. Claw colour was found to be the dominant morphological feature in identifying conspecific males in U.mjoebergi. Measurements taken during every trial included: carapace size (males and females), treatment (males), claw size (males), claw side (males), number of trials, trial arrangement, and female choice.Statement: To examine the role of claw colour in species recognition, we painted the claw of a U. signata male yellow and caught three size- and handedness- matched U. mjoebergi males. Claws size was matched to within 1mm. One U. mjoebergi was painted red and white to resemble U. signata, another was painted yellow, and one was unpainted. Due to the individual variation in claw colour in both species and the absence of any knowledge of their spectral sensitivities it was impossible to choose a paint that exactly matched the claw colour as perceived by the animals. It was recorded which male the female touched or approached to within approximately 2cm, after being remotely released from the container. Females that left the area without approaching either male were considered not to have made a choice. During neap tide two matched males were tethered 15cm on either side of a point where we subsequently released females. The males were tethered with 1cm of cotton super-glued to their carapace and nail stuck in the ground. While tethered animals were able to move in a restricted circle, they were never observed to wave. Wandering females were caught and placed under a container at the release point between the males. Females were released by raising the container remotely. Paints used thrughout the experiment were oil-based gloss enamel from the Dulux Tinytin range. Parameters: Date, crab species, carapace size (mm), male claw size (mm), side of male claw, number of trials, orientation of males, female choice (species). Different worksheets represent different manipulations of the males claw colour.&rft.creator=Detto, Tanya &rft.creator=Backwell, Patricia, Dr &rft.creator=Zeil, Jochen, Dr &rft.creator=Hemmi, Jan, Dr &rft.date=2007&rft.coverage=130.83298,-12.40969 130.83297,-12.40975 130.83302,-12.40975 130.83303,-12.40970 130.83298,-12.40969&rft.coverage=westlimit=130.5; southlimit=-13; eastlimit=131; northlimit=-12&rft.coverage=westlimit=130.5; southlimit=-13; eastlimit=131; northlimit=-12&rft.coverage=uplimit=0; downlimit=0&rft.coverage=uplimit=0; downlimit=0&rft_rights=Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/&rft_rights=The citation in a list of references is: citation author name/s (year metadata published), metadata title. Citation author organisation/s. File identifier and Data accessed at (add http link).&rft_rights=Users are kindly requested to contact the principal investigator for authorisation before utilising or reproducing any material&rft_rights=Thumbnail may not be reproduced without prior consent from the principal investigator&rft_subject=biota&rft_subject=28 960043&rft_subject=28 960044&rft_subject=CRUSTACEANS&rft_subject=EARTH SCIENCE&rft_subject=BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION&rft_subject=ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES&rft_subject=ARTHROPODS&rft_subject=Colour Pattern&rft_subject=Species Recognition&rft_subject=Mate Recognition&rft_subject=Behavioural Ecology&rft_subject=Ocypodidae&rft_subject=Fiddler Crab&rft_subject=Uca mjoebergi&rft_subject=Uca signata&rft_subject=date&rft_subject=taxonomic_name&rft_subject=carapace_width&rft_subject=claw_size&rft_subject=claw_side&rft_subject=number_of_trials&rft_subject=male_orientation&rft_subject=female_choice&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data
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The citation in a list of references is: citation author name/s (year metadata published), metadata title. Citation author organisation/s. File identifier and Data accessed at (add http link).

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Brief description

Mating signals are often directed at numerous senses, and provide information about species identity, gender, receptiveness, individual identity and mate quality. Male fiddler crabs of the species Uca mjoebergi typically have an enlarged yellow claw which they use for fighting and attracting a mate using a waving action. Experiments were conducted between Sept 03' to Jan '04 in the vicinity of the mangrove boardwalk in the East Point Reserve, Darwin, NT. The experiment was designed to demonstrate the use of claw colouration as a species recognition signal in the fiddler crab Uca mjoebergi. To test this, females were given a choice between size-matched, and handed matched U.signata and U.mjoebergi males. The colour of the males claw was manipulated using Dulux Tinytin gloss enamel paint. Claw colour was found to be the dominant morphological feature in identifying conspecific males in U.mjoebergi. Measurements taken during every trial included: carapace size (males and females), treatment (males), claw size (males), claw side (males), number of trials, trial arrangement, and female choice.

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Statement: To examine the role of claw colour in species recognition, we painted the claw of a U. signata male yellow and caught three size- and handedness- matched U. mjoebergi males. Claws size was matched to within 1mm. One U. mjoebergi was painted red and white to resemble U. signata, another was painted yellow, and one was unpainted. Due to the individual variation in claw colour in both species and the absence of any knowledge of their spectral sensitivities it was impossible to choose a paint that exactly matched the claw colour as perceived by the animals. It was recorded which male the female touched or approached to within approximately 2cm, after being remotely released from the container. Females that left the area without approaching either male were considered not to have made a choice. During neap tide two matched males were tethered 15cm on either side of a point where we subsequently released females. The males were tethered with 1cm of cotton super-glued to their carapace and nail stuck in the ground. While tethered animals were able to move in a restricted circle, they were never observed to wave. Wandering females were caught and placed under a container at the release point between the males. Females were released by raising the container remotely. Paints used thrughout the experiment were oil-based gloss enamel from the Dulux Tinytin range. Parameters: Date, crab species, carapace size (mm), male claw size (mm), side of male claw, number of trials, orientation of males, female choice (species). Different worksheets represent different manipulations of the males claw colour.

Notes

Credit
Funded by The Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre for Excellence for Vision Science
Credit
Funded by The Centre of Visual Sciences (CVS, The Australian National University)
Credit
Funded by The Australian National University (ANU) PhD Scholarship
Purpose
To demonstrate the use of claw colouration as a species recognition signal in the fiddler crab Uca mjoebergi.

Issued: 01 08 2007

Data time period: 2003-09 to 2004-01

This dataset is part of a larger collection

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130.83298,-12.40969 130.83297,-12.40975 130.83302,-12.40975 130.83303,-12.4097 130.83298,-12.40969

130.833,-12.40972

131,-12 131,-13 130.5,-13 130.5,-12 131,-12

130.75,-12.5

text: westlimit=130.5; southlimit=-13; eastlimit=131; northlimit=-12

text: uplimit=0; downlimit=0

Subjects
28 960043 | 28 960044 | ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES | ARTHROPODS | BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION | Behavioural Ecology | Crustaceans | Colour Pattern | EARTH SCIENCE | Fiddler Crab | Mate Recognition | Ocypodidae | Species Recognition | Uca mjoebergi | Uca signata | biota | carapace_width | claw_side | claw_size | date | female_choice | male_orientation | number_of_trials | taxonomic_name |

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Other Information
Click here for image of methodology: mjoebergi vs signata (mjoebergi vs signata 2.JPG)

uri : https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/68ae8ad0-3ffc-11dc-b6a8-00188b4c0af8/attachments/mjoebergi vs signata 2.JPG

Click here to view a video of experiment in action (full mjoebergi vs signata movie.AVI)

uri : https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/68ae8ad0-3ffc-11dc-b6a8-00188b4c0af8/attachments/full mjoebergi vs signata movie.AVI

Click view to view Uca mjoebergi - unpainted (unpainted mjoebergi top view.JPG)

uri : https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/68ae8ad0-3ffc-11dc-b6a8-00188b4c0af8/attachments/unpainted mjoebergi top view.JPG

Click here to view Uca mjoebergi - painted red & white (red white painted mjoebergi top view.JPG)

uri : https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/68ae8ad0-3ffc-11dc-b6a8-00188b4c0af8/attachments/red white painted mjoebergi top view.JPG

Click here to view Uca mjoebergi - painted yellow (yellow painted mjoebergi top view.JPG)

uri : https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/68ae8ad0-3ffc-11dc-b6a8-00188b4c0af8/attachments/yellow painted mjoebergi top view.JPG

Click here to view Uca signata - painted yellow (yellow painted signata top view.JPG)

uri : https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/68ae8ad0-3ffc-11dc-b6a8-00188b4c0af8/attachments/yellow painted signata top view.JPG

DATA: Visually mediated species recognition in Uca mjoebergi (mjoebergi species recognition.xls)

uri : https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/68ae8ad0-3ffc-11dc-b6a8-00188b4c0af8/attachments/mjoebergi species recognition.xls

Identifiers
  • global : 68ae8ad0-3ffc-11dc-b6a8-00188b4c0af8
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