Mesocosm experimentFor the duration of each deployment, the approaches, entries, escapes, and catches of crabs were observed (Table 1). These data were then used to develop a model of trap dynamics (Fig. 3). In our analysis, the number of pots that were approached far exceeded thosethat were entered; only 20% of crab approaches resulted in an entry. The cause of pot avoidance in nearly 80% of approaches is unknown, but was not caused by conspecifics (discussed below). An interesting observation was the relative ease with which the crabs entered and exited the pots. During the duration of the mesocosm experi- ments, a total of 168 entries into the pots and 142 escapes from the pots were observed. The 85% escape rate in our mesocosm experiment consisted of 139 escapes from the kitchen, and three escapes from the parlor. The ability of crabs to exit the pot is clearly related to the section of the pot where the crab is located. Of the total escapes, 98% occurred from the kitchen and only 2% from the parlor.A total of 286 intraspecific interactions were observed, and during 133 of these, crabs physi- cally touched each other. Of all 286 interactions, the majority (178) took place in the kitchen, 12 in the entrance, 78 in the parlor, and 18 outside the pot. Approximately 10% of all observed interac- tions were aggressive, 42% were agonistic, and 48% neutral. Twelve interactions were observed at one of the four entrances. Of the 12 interac- tions, 1 was aggressive, 4 were agonistic, and 7 were neutral. In 4 of the 12 entryway interactions there was physical contact between crabs; all 4 of these interactions were agonistic. There were no interactions at the pot entrances that affected entry or exit of the pot.