HOST-SPECIFICITY OF THE ANEMONE SHRIMP PERICLIMENES-PEDERSONI AND P-YUCATANICUS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

Host specificity by Periclimenes pedersoni and P. yucatanicus to three species of sea anemone was investigated. Field associations, initial preferences (within 72 hr of collection) in the laboratory, and change s in preference after ''conditioning'' with an alternate host were com pared. Periclimenes pedersoni associated with Bartholornea annulata in the field preferred this same anemone in choice trials. These shrimp changed preference after 2 to 8 weeks of conditioning with a different host species. Periclimenes yucatanicus associated with Stichodactyla helianthus in the field preferred this anemone in choice trials. Those P. yucatanicus collected from either Condylactis gigantea or B. annul ata did not exhibit an initial preference for these respective hosts. Periclimenes yucatanicus initially found on and preferring S. helianth us did not change their preference after conditioning; those found on other hosts chose S. helianthus after conditioning.