Meeting Abstract
Grooming behaviors have been documented in many crustaceans, with a focus mostly on shrimps. Setal morphologies of the associated grooming appendages of these studied species are elaborate, as well as variable, depending on the body regions groomed, fouling intensity, and overall time budget for grooming. In brachyurans, little is known about the grooming behaviors and related setae; besides spider crabs, there is not any detailed information about this commercially important group. Little is known about the grooming behaviors or fouling of the economically important blue crab or stone crab. Because blue crabs are more active and likely exposed to more fouling than stone crabs, blue crabs were predicted to have higher grooming pressures, resulting in higher grooming activities. In this research, grooming behaviors of these two crab species were observed, each for over 40 hours. Body regions groomed and by which body appendages was recorded as well as grooming durations. Then, scanning electron microscopy was used to document the setal morphology of the grooming appendages. Results show that stone crabs have a much higher time budge for grooming compared to blue crabs and other decapods. Both species focus grooming on respiratory and sensory structures. Setal morphologies of both species were elaborate, with some setal types reoccurring on the same appendage of both species. Overall, stone crabs have very detailed behaviors and morphologies that seem to keep their fouling levels low in the field.
