Evaluation of pattern of shell utilization in the hermit crab Clibanarius africanus (Aurivillus, 1898) (Decapoda: Diogenidae) in the Lagos Lagoon: aspects of behavioural and bio- ecology of benthos.
| dc.contributor.author | Lawal-Are, A. O. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Uwadiae, R. E. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Owolabi, O. R. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-09-27T07:29:28Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2019-09-27T07:29:28Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2011 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Evaluation of pattern of shell utilization by Clibanarius africanus was investigated in the intertidal area of the Lagos lagoon, between March and August, 2008 at five study sites. A total of 663 specimens of hermit crab in gastropod shells were collected. Shell occupation of C. africanus was limited to gastropod shells belonging to Pachymelania and Tympanotonus spp. The gastropod shell most inhabited was those of Pachymelania spp, which accounted for 60.96% of inhabited shells, while about 39% of the shell inhabited belonged to Tympanotonus spp. Shell preferences were characterized by shell length, weight and aperture width. Positive and statistically significant correlations were obtained between morphometric characteristics of C. africanus and those of the shells inhabited, suggesting that fitness of shell to crab dimension constitutes mainly the determinant for C. africanus shell utilization. Spatiotemporal variations in the type of shell occupied were not significant in this study. Analysis of the abundance of C. africanus in the study area indicates that, a relatively higher abundance of C. africanus was observed in site 3, due probably to the favourable environmental conditions provided by large percentage of sand fractions in the sediment. From the data recorded in this study, it may be concluded that shell utilization by hermit crabs involves individual preferences related to the shell features that best provide protection, survival and opportunity for the enhancement of behavioural attributes that are necessary for the maximization of bio-ecological relationships. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.citation | Authors Aderonke Lawal-Are, Roland Efe Uwadiae, Olayemi Ruth Owolabi Publication date 2011 Journal Natural Sciences Volume 9 Pages 7-15. Cited by 2 | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://ir.unilag.edu.ng/handle/123456789/6168 | |
| dc.subject | bioecological relationships | en_US |
| dc.subject | Shell utilisation | en_US |
| dc.subject | hermit crabs | en_US |
| dc.subject | Clibanarius africanus | en_US |
| dc.title | Evaluation of pattern of shell utilization in the hermit crab Clibanarius africanus (Aurivillus, 1898) (Decapoda: Diogenidae) in the Lagos Lagoon: aspects of behavioural and bio- ecology of benthos. | en_US |