Citation
Energy maximization in the diet of the shore crab, Carcinus maenas
TL;DR
Shore crabs select mussels that maximize energy return per handling time
Elner and Hughes provided the empirical demonstration that shore crabs optimize mussel selection exactly as optimal foraging theory predicts. Their detailed measurements of handling times, energy content, and observed diet choices validated the theoretical framework with real data.
This study provides the biological evidence for the Shore Crab Decision Matrix framework, showing that diet selection based on value/effort ratios produces measurably better outcomes than random or preference-based selection.
Key Findings from Elner & Hughes (1978)
- Shore crabs select mussels that maximize energy return per handling time
- Medium-sized mussels often provide optimal return (not largest or smallest)
- Diet breadth expands when preferred sizes become scarce
- Observed behavior closely matches theoretical predictions