The formation and maintenance of crayfish hierarchies: behavioral and self-structuring properties

• DOI: 10.1007/s002650000222
• Publication Date: 2002-10-06T14:27:04Z
• Authors: C. Goessmann; C. Hemelrijk; R. Huber
• Keywords: Astacus; Animal ecology; Dominance hierarchy; Agonistic behaviour; Dominance (genetics)

Behavioral changes in fighting and the devel- opment of dominance relationships were analyzed in groups of juvenile crayfish ( Astacus astacus) using quantitative behavioral techniques. When individuals were placed into an aquarium, the number of agonistic challenges, their mean duration, and maximum intensity reached were high initially but then decreased steadily as the hierarchy developed. In all groups, linear hierarchies emerged which became increasingly stable over time. Winning influenced subsequent fighting behavior on two distinct time scales. In the short term, recent winners be- came progressively less likely to retreat. Second, indi- viduals occupying dominant positions for days became increasingly likely to escalate to higher intensities early in the encounter. Both effects biased the outcome of fu- ture interactions such that winning enhanced further suc- cess and losing decreased an individual's subsequent chances for dominance.