Chemical Communication and Agonism in the Crayfish, Procambarus acutus acutus

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Abstract
The ecological importance of pheromones in the agonistic behavior of the crayfish P. a. acutus (Girard) was investigated with a closed-circuit videotape system. The effects of an inflow of water conditioned by the presence of crayfish in head tanks was tested on the behavior of solitary males in observation tanks. The durations of the following behaviors were recorded: meral spread, pincer spread, chela waving, grooming and searching. Crayfish were significantly more agonistic when receiving chemical information from a stressed conspecific than when inflow water lacked this chemical cue. Significant differences in the behavior of observation tank males in response to potential sex pheromones were not demonstrated. The considerable difference in duration of agonism between P. a. acutus and other crayfish species [P. clarkii] suggests that the ecological importance of pheromones is species-specific in crayfish.

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