Abstract
This paper presents the results of a series of habitat selection experiments aimed at determining
if juvenile Melicertus latisulcatus generally occur on intertidal sand- and mud-flats as a result of
active selection of unvegetated areas, or due to extrinsic factors Že.g. differential predation.. In the
laboratory, juvenile M. latisulcatus showed a clear preference for habitats containing sand
irrespective of the presence or absence of predators. If sand was not available, artificial seagrass
was chosen as a secondary preference but was avoided when sand alone was also present.
Importantly, the combinations of habitats chosen for testing allowed us to determine that artificial
seagrass provided a good surrogate for real seagrass, and that the presence of potential food
Žepiphytes. did not appear to influence habitat selection. There was also no difference in the
habitat selected between day and night, and only minor differences with prawn size. Thus,
juvenile M. latisulcatus appear to have a hierarchy of mechanisms for avoiding predators, with
burying in sand being the preferred option. If burying is not possible, then seagrass is used for
shelter. Active habitat selection to avoid predation appears likely to play a substantial role in
determining the distribution of these animals on unvegetated sand- and mud-flats. q2001 Elsevier
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