Correlation analyses of covering and righting behaviors to fitness related traits of the sea urchin Glyptocidaris crenularis in different environmental conditions

Complex marine benthic environments shape a number of ecologically important behaviorsin sea urchins, including covering and righting behaviors. The present study correlated covering andrighting behaviors to a series of fitness-related traits in sea urchins. Righting response time of Glyptocidariscrenularis was significantly positively correlated with body size, but significantly negatively correlatedwith food consumption. Covering behavior was not significantly correlated with test diameter, test heightor body weight, but covering response time was negatively correlated with body weight. A significantlynegative correlation was found between righting response time and covering response time. Glyptocidariscrenularis showed a significantly positive correlation in covering response time with and without exposureto poured sand, but no significance in covering ability (number of shells used to cover). The present studyprovides new insight into internal mechanisms and evolutionary drives of covering and righting behaviorsof sea urchins. FWN – Publicaties zonder aanstelling Universiteit Leide