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Studies on the behaviour and substratum preference in juveniles of the marine prawn, Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius)

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Abstract

Circadian rhythmicity in the behaviour of the marine prawn, Metapenaeus monoceros (Fab) and its substratum preference has been observed under laboratory conditions. In the morning at 9. a.m. 80% prawns remain buried and in the afternoon at 3 p.m. 60% burrowing was observed. A contrasting situation was observed in the night i.e. 17% burrowing at 9 p.m. and 30% burrowing at 3 a.m. was registered. In the second set of experiments juveniles were subjected to four types of substrata viz. mud, black fine sand, white coarse sand and stones. It was noted that M. monoceros showed more affinity towards the mud and less preference to other substrata. The obtained results are discussed to provide clues for prawn fishing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Marathwada University, 431004, Aurangabad

    P. K. Joshi, G. K. Kulkarni & R. Nagabhushanam

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  1. P. K. Joshi
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  2. G. K. Kulkarni
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  3. R. Nagabhushanam
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This work was supported by I.C.A.R., New Delhi through a project on Reprod. Endocr. Edible prawns.

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Joshi, P.K., Kulkarni, G.K. & Nagabhushanam, R. Studies on the behaviour and substratum preference in juveniles of the marine prawn, Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius). Hydrobiologia 65, 195–198 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00038859

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00038859

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