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Keywords

fiddler crab, signaling, urbanization, human-impact, behavior

Abstract

Animal communication plays a central role in survival and reproduction, allowing individuals to convey information about their quality, territory, and reproductive statuses. Because signaling behaviors are often energetically costly and are dependent on both social contexts and habitat, they are sensitive to environmental conditions. Previous research has shown that male sand fiddler crabs (Leptuca pugilator) produce two distinct wave types: D-waves (typically directed towards other males) and up-and-down waves (typically directed toward females), and that they also reduce their waving behavior under urban stress. Urbanization introduces stressors such as habitat alteration and increased disturbances that can change the frequency and type of signaling fiddler crabs produce. This study combines those findings by comparing urban and rural sites to determine whether wave rate and wave type differ across habitats, as well as in the presence of females. Understanding these patterns provides insight into how animals adjust their communication strategies in response to human altered environments. This work contributes to the broader understanding of the behavioral plasticity in this species as well as how anthropogenic stressors can influence ecological and social interactions in coastal organisms.

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

2026-03-26

Language

English

College

Life Sciences

Department

Biology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Junior

The Story Behind the Waves: Effects of Urbanization and Female Presence on Waving Behavior in Fiddler Crabs

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Life Sciences Commons

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