Ventilation Behavior of the Mantis Shrimp, HEMISQUILLA ENSIGERA CALIFORNIENSIS IN HYPOXIC BURROWS

<p>The burrow-dwelling mantis shrimp, <em>Hemisquilla ensigera californiensis</em>, is an environmentally challenged marine species due to the fact it inhabits burrows located beneath the surface of the sediment where oxygen pressure is low and easily depleted. This experiment revealed that burrow oxygen pressure (pO₂) is frequently hypoxic and can become anoxic. Average pO₂ within the burrow is between 40-50 mm Hg and may drop below 10 mm Hg even if the burrow isn't capped. When capped, p0₂ rapidly drops to 0 mm Hg within two hours. Low pO₂ does not result in decreased animal activity, nor in movement of the animal toward the burrow entrance. <em>Hemisquilla ensigera</em> is capable of ventilating the burrow, but does not need to come to the entrance to do so. Ventilation is accomplished by prolonged pleopod beating while assuming a specific posture, rather than by whole-body movement, and may occur even while the animal is deep within the burrow. In this respect, H. ensigera is quite different from other marine crustaceans crustaceans which experience similar challenges of low pO₂.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year

1998

Author dc:creator

• Richter, Tamara L.

Contributors dc:contributor

• David L. Cowles
• Leonard Brand
• William Hayes

• Biology
• Marine Biology
• Shrimps -- California; Decapoda (Crustacea) -- Behavior; Animal behavior.

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/774

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-1856