Burrow structure and microhabitat characteristics ofNesiergus insulanus(Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Frégate Island, Seychelles

The habitats of two apparently sympatric freshwater crayfish, Engaeus cisternarius and E. fossor, in north-western Tasmania were compared. At two study sites data on rainfall, temperature, water table level, dissolved oxygen and pH were collected. E. fossor occupies regions below the water table, whilst E. cisternarius occupies drier areas above the water table. The burrow structure, burrow fauna, ectofauna and food were compared. The geographical distribution of each species is discussed.

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Burrow morphology of the echiuran wormMaxmuelleria lankesteri(Echiura: Bonelliidae), and a brief review of burrow structure and related ecology of the Echiura

Journal of Natural History ◽

10.1080/00222939500770311 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 871-885 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

L.A. Nickell ◽

R.J.A. Atkinson ◽

D.J. Hughes ◽

A.D. Ansell ◽

C.J. Smith

Keyword(s):

Burrow Structure ◽

Burrow Morphology

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Interspecific differences in the burrow morphology between the sympatric mud shrimps, Austinogebia narutensis and Upogebia issaeffi (Crustacea: Thalassinidea: Upogebiidae)

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315405011926 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 85 (4) ◽

pp. 943-947 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Kyoko Kinoshita ◽

Gyo Itani

Keyword(s):

Size Effects ◽

Interspecific Differences ◽

The Family ◽

The Mean ◽

The Difference ◽

Burrow Structure ◽

Shaped Pattern ◽

Burrow Morphology ◽

Shaped Section

The morphology of burrows constructed by the upogebiid mud shrimps Austinogebia narutensis and Upogebia issaeffi was studied using resin castings of burrows in situ on Mukaishima Island, Seto Inland Sea, Japan, where the two species occurred sympatrically. The burrow structure of both shrimps is a relatively simple Y-shaped pattern, which is typical of the family Upogebiidae. Total burrow length, and length and overall width of the U-shaped section of A. narutensis were greater than those of U. issaeffi, possibly because A. narutensis is the larger species. When the ratios of the burrow measurements to the mean burrow diameter were compared to exclude possible size effects, the burrows of A. narutensis had a wider and shallower U-shaped section than those of U. issaeffi. Because the casts were made where the two species occurred sympatrically, the differences in the burrow morphology were not due to the differences in environmental factors but to the difference in the shrimp species, whether they are adaptive or not.

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Biology of Aganippine trapdoor spiders (Mygalomorphae: Ctenizidae)

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo9570402 ◽

1957 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 402 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

BY Main

Keyword(s):

Life Histories ◽

Foraging Behaviour ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Valid Species ◽

Adaptive Function ◽

Habitat Types ◽

Evolutionary Radiation ◽

History Of ◽

Burrow Structure ◽

Three New Species

A taxonomic revision of the tribe Aganippini (Ctenizidae) is made. The genus Blakistonia Hogg is excluded from the tribe, Gaius Rainbow is synonymized with Anidiops Pocock, and Eucyrtops Pocock is re-instated. The group now consists of the four genera Aganippe Cambridge, Idiosoma Ausserer, Anidiops, and Eucyrtops. The former 23 species of the tribe are reduced to nine, and three new species are described, making a total of 12 valid species. Allotypes of five species, previously known only from one sex, are designated and described. Many characters customarily used in mygalomorph taxonomy are criticized and shown to be inadequate. Observations on the life histories and natural history of the species are recorded. The adaptive function of different burrow and door structures is discussed. Distribution of species in relation to particular habitat types in the general environment is mentioned. Parallel adaptation of a specialized foraging behaviour ("twig-lining", whereby spiders attach twigs to the rim of the burrow in such a way that they are utilized as "feeling lines" when foraging) is recorded for seven species in three genera. Twig-lining appears to be an adaptation to relatively dry habitats where the food supply is less abundant. By this method of foraging, animals increase their area of search for food. A relationship between morphology and behaviour is noted. Certain morphological features, in particular the eyes, are shown to be correlated with burrow structure, including door type, and foraging behaviour. The evolutionary radiation of the tribe is shown to be the result of ecological expansion. Postulated phylogeny of the tribe is outlined. Derivation of the genus Idiosoma from Aganippe is postulated. It is suggested that this has been due to "block" inheritance of several characters (which together have adaptive superiority), and which are assorting independently in other species. These characters, when inherited together, mark the irreversible culmination of the adaptive trend of twig-lining, the initial stages of which are exhibited by the adaptively plastic species of Aganippe and Anidiops.

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Polydorid species (Polychaeta: Spionidae) in Japan, with descriptions of morphology, ecology and burrow structure. 2. Non-boring species

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315499002143 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 80 (3) ◽

pp. 443-456 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Waka Sato-Okoshi

Keyword(s):

Blood Vessels ◽

Morphological Variability ◽

New To Japan ◽

Behavioural Characteristics ◽

The Family ◽

Japanese Waters ◽

Burrow Structure

A total of 11 polydorid species of the family Spionidae were extracted from non-calcareous substrata from Japan. The polydorids were: one Polydora sp., Polydora cornuta; three Dipolydora spp., Dipolydora quadrilobata, D. cardalia, D. socialis; one Carazziella sp., Carazziella spongilla; one Boccardiella sp., Boccardiella hamata; two Boccardia spp., Boccardia perata, B. proboscidea; three Pseudopolydora spp., Pseudopolydora cf. kempi, P. antennata, P. paucibranchiata. All inhabited mud deposits including mud in crevices of calcareous substrata, sponge and sandstone rocks, and were never found in self-excavated burrows in calcareous substrata. This study attempts to summarize and discuss the taxonomic, morphological, and behavioural characteristics of these non-boring species inhabiting Japanese waters and to compare them with the previously known boring species. The 11 non-boring species belonged to six genera. Thus their taxonomic and morphological variability was higher than those of boring species, which belonged only to three genera. A generic overview suggests that some genera contain many species capable of boring and others contain many species incapable of boring. Branchial blood vessels were thick and conspicuous in non-boring species. Moreover, they showed high crawling activity and a strong, vigorous palp movement. These observations suggest a possible link between boring activity and the morphology and behaviour in polydorids. In addition, Polydora cornuta, Dipolydora quadrilobata, D. cardalia, D. socialis, Boccardia perata and Pseudopolydora cf. kempi are new to Japan.

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