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Horm Behav

Title:		"Sex-specific mediation of foraging in the shore crab, Carcinus maenas"
Author(s):		Hayden D; Jennings A; Muller C; Pascoe D; Bublitz R; Webb H; Breithaupt T; Watkins L; Hardege J;
Address:		"Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CF1 3TL, UK"
Journal Title:		Horm Behav
Year:		2007
Volume:		20070321
Issue:		2
Page Number:		162 - 168
DOI:		10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.03.004
ISSN/ISBN:		0018-506X (Print) 0018-506X (Linking)
Abstract:		"Experiments were conducted to investigate the sex-specific differences to feeding responses of the shore crab Carcinus maenas throughout the year. Results demonstrate that female shore crabs exhibit stronger feeding responses than males throughout the year with a significantly reduced feeding response in males during the summer months' reproductive season. We also studied the possible function(s) of the moulting hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone (Crustecdysone) that has been described as a potential female-produced sex pheromone to initiate male reproductive behaviour in a number of crustaceans. We recently presented evidence that for shore crabs this is not the case and now show that the steroid is instead functioning as a sex-specific feeding deterrent protecting the moulting 'soft' female crabs. Whilst male shore crabs were deterred from prey (Mytilus edulis) and synthetic feeding stimulants glycine and taurine when these feeding stimulants were spiked with crustecdysone, intermoult female crabs were significantly less affected and rarely deterred from feeding. This sex specificity of the moulting hormone, in combination with the female sex pheromone, which has no anti-feeding properties, ensures that male crabs mate with soft-shelled, moulted females rather than engage in cannibalism, such as found frequently in cases when soft-shelled females are exposed to intermoult females"
Keywords:		"Animals Behavior, Animal/*physiology Brachyura/chemistry/*physiology Ecdysterone/analysis/physiology Feeding Behavior/*physiology Female Glycine/analysis Male Seasons *Sex Characteristics Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology;"
Notes:		"MedlineHayden, Dominic Jennings, Alice Muller, Carsten Pascoe, David Bublitz, Ralf Webb, Heather Breithaupt, Thomas Watkins, Lloyd Hardege, Jorg eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2007/06/02 Horm Behav. 2007 Aug; 52(2):162-8. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.03.004. Epub 2007 Mar 21"