Date of Award

2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Gilchrist, Sandra

Keywords

Octopus Joubini, Predation, Pulling, Drilling

Area of Concentration

Marine Biology

Abstract

Octopuses make decisions while foraging based on a range of factors, including prey size, prey species, habitat foraged and availability of prey. This thesis examines the overall predation behavior of Octopus joubini on gastropods and Pagurus sp. A total of 7 octopuses were studied in situ and observed for overall behavior. Shells of consumed prey were observed for the presence of drill holes, locations of holes on drilled shells, and overall shell size. Object interaction and prey preference was also noted. Shells were collected and organized into groups of drilled and intact, then further arranged by size. It was found that the sutures of the body whorls were the most efficient drill site, and that prey size is directly related to the decision to drill as well as overall handling time. Prey was found to be chosen based upon size and shortest amount of handling time to consume.

Rights

The author has granted New College of Florida the nonexclusive right to archive, make accessible, and distribute for educational purposes this work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The copyright of this work remains with the author.

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