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Sexual Dimorphism, Resource Partitioning And Intraspecific Aggression In Caprella Californica Stimpson, Ian D. Campbell

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The Caprellidae are a specialized suborder of Amphipoda, which are highly modified for a semisessile life. Caprellids exhibit direct development and brood their young. The suborder is exclusively marine and commonly found on filamentous algae, sea grasses and fouling communities. Most published works on caprellids have been primarily concern~d with systematics (Caine, 1974; Dougherty, 1943; Laubitz, 1970, 1972; McCain, 1968, 1975), although a few recent studies have dealt with ecology and ethology (Bynum, 1978; Caine, 1977; Keith, 1969, 1971; Lewbel, 1978; Saunders, 1966).

This study examines·spatial and temporal variations in distribution, abundance and population structure as well as describing intraspecific …