The visual control of escape behaviours in fiddler crabs

Callum Donohue

doi:10.26182/bxm8-1591

The visual control of escape behaviours in fiddler crabs

Callum Donohue

Research output: Thesis › Doctoral Thesis

148 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Prey animals must monitor and analyse the steady stream of sensory information for signs of predators and determine adequate escape strategies. This is problematic for small animals that often have simple nervous systems and limited sensory information. My research investigated the unique solutions fiddler crabs (Gelasimus dampieri) have evolved to overcome these problems and how they successfully deal with multiple, simultaneously approaching predators by using salience-based selective attention. Overall, my work highlights the importance of lifestyle and visual environment, in how small animals organise their behaviour to overcome their sensory limitations and escape from predators.

Original language	English
Qualification	Doctor of Philosophy
Awarding Institution	The University of Western Australia
Supervisors/Advisors	Partridge, Julian, Supervisor Hemmi, Jan, Supervisor Bagheri, Zahra, Supervisor
Thesis sponsors	Australian Government Research Training Program
Award date	23 Aug 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.26182/bxm8-1591
Publication status	Unpublished - 2022

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10.26182/bxm8-1591

THESIS - DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY - DONOHUE, Callum - 2022
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2 Article

Behavioural and neural responses of crabs show evidence for selective attention in predator avoidance.
Bagheri, Z., Donohue, C., Partridge, J. & Hemmi, J., Dec 2022, In: Scientific Reports. 12, 1, 18 p., 10022.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
3 Citations (Scopus)
Countershading enhances camouflage by reducing prey contrast
Donohue, C. G., Hemmi, J. M. & Kelley, J. L., 27 May 2020, In: Proceedings. Biological sciences. 287, 1927, 1 p., 20200477.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
13 Citations (Scopus)

Cite this

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title = "The visual control of escape behaviours in fiddler crabs",

abstract = "Prey animals must monitor and analyse the steady stream of sensory information for signs of predators and determine adequate escape strategies. This is problematic for small animals that often have simple nervous systems and limited sensory information. My research investigated the unique solutions fiddler crabs (Gelasimus dampieri) have evolved to overcome these problems and how they successfully deal with multiple, simultaneously approaching predators by using salience-based selective attention. Overall, my work highlights the importance of lifestyle and visual environment, in how small animals organise their behaviour to overcome their sensory limitations and escape from predators.",

keywords = "Escape behaviour, Looming stimuli, Collision-avoidance, Selective attention, Animal behaviour, Visual ecology, Decision making, Visual cues",

author = "Callum Donohue",

year = "2022",

doi = "10.26182/bxm8-1591",

language = "English",

school = "The University of Western Australia",

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PY - 2022

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AB - Prey animals must monitor and analyse the steady stream of sensory information for signs of predators and determine adequate escape strategies. This is problematic for small animals that often have simple nervous systems and limited sensory information. My research investigated the unique solutions fiddler crabs (Gelasimus dampieri) have evolved to overcome these problems and how they successfully deal with multiple, simultaneously approaching predators by using salience-based selective attention. Overall, my work highlights the importance of lifestyle and visual environment, in how small animals organise their behaviour to overcome their sensory limitations and escape from predators.

KW - Escape behaviour

KW - Looming stimuli

KW - Collision-avoidance

KW - Selective attention

KW - Animal behaviour

KW - Visual ecology

KW - Decision making

KW - Visual cues

U2 - 10.26182/bxm8-1591

DO - 10.26182/bxm8-1591

M3 - Doctoral Thesis

ER -

The visual control of escape behaviours in fiddler crabs

Abstract

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Research output

Behavioural and neural responses of crabs show evidence for selective attention in predator avoidance.

Countershading enhances camouflage by reducing prey contrast

Cite this