Reproductive behavior in horseshoe crabs： Does density matter

• Published in: Current zoology Vol. 56; no. 5; pp. 634 - 642
• Main Authors: Mattei, Jennifer H., Beekey, Mark A., Rudman, Adam, Woronik, Alyssa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 01.10.2010
• Subjects: Limulus; Mating behavior; Monogamy; Polygynandry; Population density; 一夫一妻制; 交配产卵; 交配行为; 人口密度; 卵密度; 物质; 生殖行为; 鲎
• ISSN: 1674-5507; 2396-9814
• DOI: 10.1093/czoolo/56.5.634

While the four species of horseshoe crabs share many common reproductive traits with respect to their reproductive systems, they do differ with respect to their mating behavior （monogamy vs. polygynandry）. Past research has attributed these differences to a number of factors including： spawning densities, operational sex ratios （OSR＇s）, male condition （or age）, environmental and/or genetic factors, or a combination thereof. Mating behaviors in the three Asian horseshoe crab species （Tachy-pleus gigas, T. tridentatus, and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda） with low spawning densities and 1：1 operational sex ratios are typically monogamous. In Limuluspolyphemus, mating behavior is more variable ranging fi＇om monogamy to polygynandry. Here we provide evidence, through a long term behavioral study, that variation in mating behavior is influenced by population density in L. polyphemus. Our study population on two beaches in Connecticut （Long Island Sound） have a spawning density 400 times less than that found in Delaware Bay （0.002 females/m2 vs. 0.8 females/m2） but similar operational sex ratios. Between 90%-95% of all spawning females in CT were paired with only one male, thus exhibiting monogamous behavior. In contrast, between 30 and 60% of spawning females in Delaware Bay have more than one mate and produce clutches of eggs with multiple paternities. Male condition played no role in mating behavior in CT populations. We also observed that on average 18% of the females on the spawning beaches are single. These results suggest that population density is an important condition that determines mating behavior. Also, low population density may lead to decreased mate finding ability and lost opportunities for spawning