Type
Text
Type
Dissertation
Advisor
Levinton, Jeffrey S | Futuyma, Douglas J | Bell, Michael A | Hixon, Mark A.
Date
2012-08-01
Keywords
Ecology--Behavioral sciences--Evolution & development | alpheid, coral reefs, gobiidae, mutualism, shrimp-goby
Department
Department of Ecology and Evolution
Language
en_US
Source
This work is sponsored by the Stony Brook University Graduate School in compliance with the requirements for completion of degree.
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/11401/71333
Publisher
The Graduate School, Stony Brook University: Stony Brook, NY.
Format
application/pdf
Abstract
I describe several assays designed to examine how costs and benefits interact in the development of mutualisms between species. A mutualism occurs between alpheid shrimp and gobiid fishes. These shrimp have poor vision but good burrowing ability. Individual shrimp share their burrows with a goby that, with good vision but no burrowing ability, acts as a watch-out warning shrimp when predators approach. In the Caribbean, a single species, Nes longus, which has been described as a mutualist, follows these behaviors. Others, such as Ctenogobius saepepallens, casually use shrimp burrows, rarely warn shrimp of danger, and are better described as commensalists. I found that N. longus more effectively avoids predators while using shrimp burrows than C. saepepallens. Thus, tight mutualism with shrimp is advantageous, especially in areas where shrimp burrows are abundant. I have quantified several behaviors that likely allow N. longus to use burrows more effectively. Why then would C. saepepallens not evolve such behaviors and become a strict mutualist if strict mutualism is advantageous? For gobies, there is likely a cost associated with mutualism with shrimp. To warn shrimp, gobies must remain at a burrow entrances and restrict foraging to that small area. I found that on the same restricted diet, C. saepepallens lost more weight than N. longus. Thus, C. saepepallens may be constrained to a casual association with shrimp due to foraging requirements. This story indicates that strict mutualism may evolve infrequently because few species can overcome the inherent costs of mutualism. | 106 pages
Recommended Citation
Lyons, Patrick, "The evolution of mutualism between alpheid shrimp and gobiid fishes: a balance between benefits and costs" (2012). Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions). 539.
https://commons.library.stonybrook.edu/stony-brook-theses-and-dissertations-collection/539