Meeting Abstract

100.4  Sunday, Jan. 6  The Synergistic Nature of the Behaviors and Mechanisms that Support Effective Burrowing in the Mantis Shrimp Squilla empusa BUMP, P.A.K.*; VETTER, K.M.S.; University of Hawaii at Mānoa; Denison University paulbump@hawaii.edu

The mantis shrimp Squilla empusa is a charismatic marine crustacean known for its powerful strike, keen sense of vision, and chemosensory abilities. These benthic creatures create extensive burrows that are important in feeding, reproduction, and protection from predation. Through field observations of a population located in Great Harbor in Woods Hole, MA this species of mantis shrimp has been observed to construct burrows faster and makes more alterations than previously recorded. To understand the mechanics of these burrowing behaviors, mantis shrimp were filmed making burrows in the lab using high-speed videography. S. empusa used two markedly distinct methods of burrowing: pleopod fanning and maxilliped bulldozing. Pleopod fanning consists of a swift posterior power stroke, followed by a slower recovery motion towards the anterior. During the power stroke the pleopods are fully extended, while during the recovery phase the pleopods curl up, reducing drag. In the other form of burrowing, the maxillipeds dig into the substrate, rotate to hold the sediment in a basket, and then deposit the contents outside of the burrow. To understand the fine structure of the mantis shrimp’s pleopods and maxillipeds, analysis of the appendages was performed using a Zeiss dissecting microscope. Through this series of observations and analyses we are starting to understand how pleopod anatomy and kinematics work synergistically to create an effective burrowing system. This work was supported by NSF DBI-1005378 “REU Site:Biological Discovery in Woods Hole,” the Lucy B. Lemann Fellowship Fund Award, and the Laura and Arthur Colwin Endowed Summer Research Fellowship Fund Award