Meeting Abstract
Behavioral analysis of stress is often the best acute measure of maladaptive conditions. Animals have sensory systems that react to aversive conditions and allow the animal to mount an appropriate behavioral response. In the case of the endemic Colombian freshwater crab, Neostrengeria macropa, the effects of temperature over the next century combined with increased risk from human development on the Bogotá Plain could have an impact on its long-term survival. Additionally, there are over 100 other freshwater crabs in the country that could be at risk if the RCP 8.5 IPCC scenario comes to pass. Previous behavioral work indicated that the freshwater crab, N. macropa, has a probable temperature preference range of 10.5°C to 26°C (Hudson et al., 2016). The respirometry results highlight the importance of coupling behavioral quantification with respirometry data. Even though activity declines for the 28°C temperature treatment in the behavioral study, respiration rate continued to increase, meaning that the organism is behaviorally compensating by decreasing its exploratory behavior.
