Associations between the Arrow Goby Clevelandia ios (Jordan and Gilbert) and the Ghost Shrimp Callianassa californiensis Dana in Natural and Artificial Burrows

Abstract

Clevelandia ios is a small estuarine teleost that inhabits the burrows of the Thalassinid crustacean Callianassa californiensis. Field observations and laboratory experiments were undertaken to determine the relationship of Clevelandia ios and Callianassa californiensis, whether it be commensalism, mutualism, or parasitism. Clevelandia ios and Callianassa californiensis were found to co-occur in burrows less frequently than they would be expected to by chance, under both field and laboratory conditions. In addition, the arrow gobies were found to inhabit the ghost shrimp burrows only during the spring and summer months.