Utilisation of the introduced New Zealand screwshell (Maoricolpus roseus) by native hermit crabs in eastern Tasmania - depth-related variance in shell occupancy

Interactions between native and introduced species can help to elucidate the impact of exotic species on the broader community. This work examines utilisation of an introduced gastropod, the New Zealand screwshell (Maoricolpus roseus) by native hermit crabs in eastern Tasmania.


Variation in shell occupancy by hermit crabs was examined across different depths (10, 20, 30 and 40m) within a single site (Dennes Point, SE Tasmania).


Sediment cores were taken from 10 and 20 m to compare sediment size structure. A sediment preference trial using the hermit crab Paguristes tuberculatus was also carried out (using sediment from 10m and 20m) to try and determine the low level of hermit crab occupancy at 20m (compared with that at 10m).

Simple

Identification info

Date (Creation)
2008-05-27T13:04:00

Principal investigator

School of Zoology, University of Tasmania (UTAS) - Reid, Anthony
Private Bag 5
Hobart
Tasmania
7001
Australia
>

Purpose
To examine the association between Maoricolpus roseus and hermit crabs - and thereby identify potential impacts of this introduced screwshell on native populations of hermit crabs in eastern Tasmania - specifically looking at depth-related variation in occupancy and utilisation of M. roseus shells by hermit crabs.
Credit
School of Zoology, University of Tasmania
Credit
Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) Grant
Status
Completed

Principal investigator

Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE), Tasmanian Government - Reid, Anthony, Dr

Point of contact

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania (UTAS) - Johnson, Craig, Prof. (Honours supervisor)
IMAS - Sandy Bay
Private Bag 129
Hobart
Tasmania
7001
Australia
ORCID ID >

Spatial representation type
Text, table
Topic category
  • Biota

Extent

N
S
E
W


Temporal extent

Time period
2003 2003

Vertical element

Minimum value
10
Maximum value
40
Maintenance and update frequency
Not planned

Resource format

Title
Excel
Date
Edition
2003
Global Change Master Directory Earth Science keywords v.5.3.8
  • Biosphere | Zoology | Crustaceans
  • Biosphere | Zoology | Mollusks
CAAB - Codes for Australian Aquatic Biota v2
  • 24 079001
  • Maoricolpus roseus
Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC): Fields of Research
Keywords (Theme)
  • Shell length
  • Shell width
  • Shell weight
  • Hermit crab occupancy

Resource constraints

Classification
Unclassified

Resource constraints

Use limitation
The data described in this record are the intellectual property of A. Reid.

Resource constraints

Linkage
http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/2.5/au/88x31.png

License Graphic

Title
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia License


>

Website
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/

License Text

Other constraints
The citation in a list of references is: citation author name/s (year metadata published), metadata title. Citation author organisation/s. File identifier and Data accessed at (add http link).
Other constraints
This data is yet to be published, please contact the researcher for access to the data.

Associated resource

Title
Utilisation of the introduced New Zealand screwshell Maoricolpus roseus by native hermit crabs in eastern Tasmania
Date (Creation)
2008-06-23T16:34:00
Language
English
Character encoding
UTF8
Supplemental Information
Part of honours thesis work: Reid, A.P. 2003. Utilisation of the introduced New Zealand screwshell (Maoricolpus roseus) by native hermit crabs in eastern Tasmania: Indications of potential impact. University of Tasmania, Honours Thesis.

Content Information

Content type
Physical measurement
Name
Shell length

Name
Shell width

Name
Shell weight

Name
Hermit crab occupancy

Distribution Information

Distribution format
  • Excel

Distributor

Principal investigator

Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE), Tasmanian Government - Reid, Anthony, Dr

Resource lineage

Statement
Maoricolpus roseus were collected from 1 site in south eastern Tasmania using a modified scallop dredge towed at an average speed of 1 knot for a period of 5 minutes: Dennes Point 43°03.618 S 147°19.703 E (taken at 10, 20, 30 and 40m)
Hierarchy level
Dataset

Resource lineage

Statement
Sediment size 4 sediment cores of 150mm diameter x 100mm deep were taken from both the 10m and 20m depths at Dennes Point by SCUBA divers. Cores were passed over a standard sieve series ranging from 2mm to 63µm. The relative abundance of each fraction was determined after drying samples at 55°C for 48 hours.
Hierarchy level
Collection session

Resource lineage

Statement
A sub-sample of approx 300 Maoricolpus roseus shells were used from each site. Shell length and width were measured to the nearest 0.1 mm using Vernier callipers (shell length = longest distance of the shell from apex to anterior and width = widest part, below aperture). Shell weight was measured to the nearest 0.01g after drying at 110°C for 24 hours. Spire damage was given a relative score of 0-3. Shells were also scored as live, dead and available or dead and unavailable. Shells were broken, and if hermit crabs were present, they were identified to species, sexed and carapace measured with Vernier callipers to the nearest 0.1mm.
Hierarchy level
Dataset

Resource lineage

Statement
Sediment preference trial using the hermit crab Paguristes tuberculatus Two substrate types (sediment taken at 10m and 20m) were placed in a plastic container (165x110x55mm) separated by a 15mm plastic divider in the middle of the container. Seawater at 14°C was added to each of the 28 replicate containers. Individual P. tuberculatus were placed in the middle of each container. The substratum type occupied was recorded at 1,2,3,4,5,6,12,24 and 48 hours - with the final sediment type occupied classified as preferred.
Hierarchy level
Dataset

Metadata

Metadata identifier
2a78d8d0-2c58-11dd-bcd1-00188b4c0af8

Language
English
Character encoding
UTF8

Point of contact

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania (UTAS) - IMAS Data Manager

Type of resource

Resource scope
Dataset
Metadata linkage
https://metadata.imas.utas.edu.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/2a78d8d0-2c58-11dd-bcd1-00188b4c0af8

Point of truth URL of this metadata record

Date info (Creation)
2021-03-30T00:12:33
Date info (Revision)
2021-03-30T00:12:33

Metadata standard

Title
ISO 19115-3:2018
 
 

Overviews

Spatial extent

N
S
E
W


Keywords

Hermit crab occupancy Shell length Shell weight Shell width

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