Basic Concepts
What species is studied for territorial coalitions?
B) African fiddler crab
What is the "dear enemy" effect?
B) Decreased aggression toward neighbors
When is a crab more likely to help a neighbor?
B) When the ally is larger
What kept floaters from moving far?
C) Tethering thread
How does ally size affect coalition formation?
B) Larger allies are more likely to help
What are burrowless males called?
C) Floaters
How does the "dear enemy" effect help coalition formation?
C) By maintaining stable relationships
True or False: Coalitions form when the ally is smaller than the floater.
False
Why position a floater near the burrow?
A) To create a territorial threat
True or False: Smaller allies intervene more.
B) False
Why are burrows important?
B) As places to hide from predators
What is one benefit of the "dear enemy" effect?
A) Avoiding boundary renegotiations
What size hierarchy encourages coalitions?
A) Ally > Floater > Resident
How did researchers identify resident, floater, and ally?
B) From fight start to finish
Why is size important in crab disputes?
A) It predicts fight outcomes
Who helps a neighbor in a fight?
C) Ally
True or False: The "dear enemy" effect only applies to crabs.
False
How are coalitions maintained?
B) By-product mutualism
What measurements were taken?
B) Claw size and carapace width
What happens when a floater is larger than others?
B) Allies rarely help
What behavior was primarily observed in crabs?
C) Territorial coalitions
What is a theoretical reason for helping a neighbor?
B) By-product mutualism
How do coalitions benefit crab territories?
B) Reduce boundary disputes
What was tracked to assess floater threat?
C) Movement patterns
How do crabs assess threats?
A) By comparing their own size to others