WORTHAM, J.L.; Univeristy of Tampa, Florida: Habitat selection and grooming behaviors of male and female mantis shrimp

Marine crustaceans have complex social behaviors, and several studies have documented that these behaviors are influenced by habitat type and territory ownership. Mantis shrimp, also called stomatopods, are predatory, benthic crustaceans that live in defendable burrows and exhibit various grooming behaviors using specialized grooming appendages. Using a spearer mantis shrimp Squilla empusa from the Gulf of Mexico, I tested males and females in 7 different treatments, for a total of 420 treatments, which each treatment lasting 30 minutes. Each treatment consisted of different habitat choices, ranging from sand, crushed oyster shell, artificial pre-existing burrow, and/or a control. In each treatment, the following observations were recorded: 1) time spent on each substrate, 2) activity level, 3) burrowing behaviors, 4) swimming behavior, and 5) seven different grooming behaviors. Statistical tests were preformed to determine if mantis shrimp 1) prefer one substrate over the other, 2) prefer substrate over an artificial pre-existing burrow, 3) differ in their habitat preference and grooming behaviors related to body size and sex of the individual. Significant differences were found in habitat-selection behaviors between males and females as well as between large and small individuals. Data analyses infers that 1) spearer mantis shrimp spend much time and energy grooming, 2)groom regions of their bodies at different frequencies, and 3) have grooming behaviors that are similar between sexes and size classes.