Animal behaviour: coalition among male fiddler crabs.
Until now, no compelling evidence has emerged from studies of animal territoriality to indicate that a resident will strategically help a neighbour to defend its territory against an intruder. We show here that territory-owning Australian fiddler crabs will judiciously assist other crabs in defending their neighbouring territories. This cooperation supports the prediction that it is sometimes less costly to assist a familiar neighbour than to renegotiate boundaries with a new, and possibly stronger, neighbour.
Backwell
Patricia R Y
PR
School of Botany and Zoology, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia. pat.backwell@anu.edu.au
Jennions
Michael D
MD
D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D003386:Brachyura / Q000502:physiology*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D013731:Territoriality