Agonistic behaviour of the American lobster, Homarus americanus (Milne-Edwards)
Date
1970
Authors
Scrivener, J. C. Er
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Abstract
An investigation was begun in June 1968 to develop an agonistic ethogram for the American lobster, Homarus americanus (Milne-Edwards). Agonistic behaviour consisted of 16 stereotyped behaviour patterns, which were quantitatively recorded during 700 fifteen minute observation periods. Computer analysis of the data indicated that the behaviour patterns were performed as 4 basic chains of activities or sequence pathways, which had side-chains which were often shown more frequently by either males or females. Analysis of responses to displays, demonstrated that one animal performed the aggressive pathway of winners, while its opponent showed one of the two losers pathways. The fourth long complex pathway occurred when both animals showed aggression. There were direct relationships between the difference in body size and chelae size of the combatants and the probability of observing the lobster with the larger win. These influences were complicated by the fact that males were more aggressive than females and that past experience affected aggression. With continued study, the data could be used to develop a model of lobster agonistic behaviour.