Shell occupation and microhabitat use by hermit crabs (Decapoda: Anomura) on Fortaleza beach, Ubatuba, São Paulo

Most species of hermit crabs use the empty shells of gastropods as mobile shelters. The variation of shell availability in different microhabitats can reduce competitive interactions between sympatric species, favoring their coexistence. This work aimed to characterize the occupation of gastropod shells by three species of hermit crabs, and assessing the availability of shells and evaluating the use of microhabitats crabs and gastropods in an infralitoral area on the north coast of São Paulo state. For this purpose, transect lines were established and all hermit crabs, gastropods and empty shells found were collected, recording the type of microhabitat used. In a sub-sample, the hermit crabs were identified and classified into reproductive categories. The shells used by the crabs were identified and evaluated according to physical damage and incrustation. Three species of hermit crabs (Paguristes tortugae, Pagurus brevidactylus and Pagurus criniticornis) were recorded, using 15 species of gastropod shells and one of scaphopod (Dentalium sp.). Physical damage and incrustation of shells were significantly different among the hermit crab species. Considering microhabitat use, P. tortugae and P. brevidactylus were mainly found in calcareous algae, while P. criniticornis mainly occurred in sand substrate. Despite the differences in shell and microhabitat use, the high resource overlap, especially by the pagurids, indicates that competitive interactions are important regulatory factors for these populations.