REU: Investigations on the Symbiosis Between Hermit Crabs and Sea Anemones

寄居蟹和海葵之间的共生将被研究，以确定已经进化的相互作用和适应。实验将确定：1)腹足类贝壳上海葵的数量和位置是否会影响寄居蟹被捕食的存活率。2)改变壳的重心是否会改变寄居蟹对海葵的放置。3)寄居蟹是否会在有捕食者的情况下更频繁地从另一只螃蟹身上取海葵。4)寄居蟹是否会在有捕食者的情况下更多地选择带有海葵的贝壳。5)寄居蟹对各种捕食者和海葵的化学敏感能力。6)海葵是否通过与寄居蟹一起运输而免受海星的捕食。这种保护将表明，这种联系代表着互惠互利。

Symbioses between hermit crabs and sea anemones will be studied to determine the interactions and adaptations that have evolved. Experiments will determine: 1) whether the numbers and locations of anemones on the gastropod shell affect the survival of hermit crabs subjected to predation. 2) whether altering the shell's center of gravity alters the placement of anemones by the hermit crabs. 3) whether hermit crabs will take anemones from another crab more often when a predator is present. 4) whether hermit crabs will select shells with anemones more often when a predator is present. 5) the chemosensory abilities of the hermit crabs towards various predators and the anemone. 6) whether the anemone is protected from starfish predation by being transported with the hermit crabs. Such protection would demonstrate that this association represents mutualism.