Alpheid Shrimp/Gobbid –
The Landlord and his Tennant
[4]
Introduction: The
Alpheid shrimp its Gobbid (the goby), engage in a very
interesting mutualistic relationship.
While the shrimp burrows in the sand digging a home for the two, the
goby keeps an eye out for predators and any sign of danger. Goby-Shrimp relationships can be found
in numerous tropical regions but extensive research has been done in the Red
Sea, Japan, and Hawaii. Over 70
different species of gobies have been associated with shrimp so far [1]. Specific shrimp goby partnerships often
change. When researchers tagged
the shrimp and the gobies, often times individual shrimp goby pairs split up
and found new partners [1].
Description of the
Relationship: Many researchers
have tried to figure out how the shrimp/goby relationship has formed. Most have come to the conclusion that
the relationship evolved as a way for both species to avoid predation [1]. Many Alpheid shrimp are nearly blind, so without their goby partner,
they are unable to detect predation [2].
The two find each other in different ways. The goby relies on vision to find its shrimp partner, where
as the shrimp relies on chemical attractions to the goby[1]. While the shrimp digs through the sand,
the goby hangs out behind him looking out for danger. Because the shrimp is nearly blind, he keeps one antenna on
the tail of the goby at all times [1]. When the goby detects danger, he slightly flicks his
tail, which signals the shrimp to dart into its burrow, with the goby following
behind [1]. Because the
partnership helps reduce encounters with predators and it does not involve any
metabolic processes, this type of mutualism would be considered
facultative. Each, individual
could live without the other, but when, paired together, it decreases death
caused by predators.
Cost/Benefit
Analysis: There is a fairly even
ratio of cost to benefit in the shrimp/goby interaction. While the shrimp uses a lot of energy
to burrow in the sand, he greatly benefits from the protection of the goby
because without the goby, the shrimp could not see its predators and would be
easy prey. Although the goby acts
as a look out for the shrimp, he gets in return a place to hide from predators. The shrimp always keeps his antenna in
contact with the goby as to not lose his partner. The shrimp puts more effort into this relationship but also
arguably has more to lose without it.
References:
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