Évolution spatio-temporelle du réseau de galeries chez le polychète Nereis virens (Sars) en relation avec la densité

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Abstract
In burrowing species, burrowing behaviour sometimes gives rise to the establishment of a territory. The spatio–temporal evolution of tunnels in the Polychaete Nereis virens (Sars) allowed us to study space allocation between individuals under two conditions of population density. During the first 3 days, a behaviour of exploration–construction within the substrate is observed. At that point, the tunnel has many branches and is a complex system of ramifications. On the 7th day, the system is simplified. The fluctuations of the various structural parameters of the burrow indicate alternating phases of activity in the animal. The shape and size of the burrow are density dependent. When the density is low, the burrow is U-shaped, whereas it is I-, L-, or Y-shaped at high density. The structure of the burrows, as observed in resin casts in the laboratory, and the absence of connections between the burrows indicate the onset of a territorial behaviour within the sediment right at the beginning of construction.[Journal translation]

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