The Effect of Decreasing pH on Dominance Relationships of Tiger Pistol Shrimp

Deanna Williams and Kerry Hansknecht

Increasing carbon dioxide levels in the ocean pose a threat to the biology of marine invertebrates, but how is not widely understood. We observed social interactions of tiger pistol shrimp, Alpheus bellulus, at three different pH levels to assess the effects of decreasing pH on dominance relationships. Dominance relationships changed across the different pH levels, while the duration of encounters did not.

• Deanna Williams graduated from Brookland-Cayce High School in Cayce. She is currently a senior biology major with a minor in chemistry. Deanna is a member of the Honors College, TriBeta Honor Society, Blue Key Honor Society, and Alpha Chi Honor Society. She plans to attend medical school after graduating from Lander University.