Food choices of land hermit crabs (Coenobita compressus H. Milne Edwards) depend on past experience

Land hermit crabs are scavengers that use olfaction to locate their foods. Although they are scavengers, land hermit crabs do not select their foods randomly. This study demonstrates that land hermit crabs (Coenobita compressus H. Milne Edwards) display negative preference induction when feeding on natural foods, preferring foods that they have not experienced recently. These induced feeding preferences were measured at a population level by recording crab choices among food odors in the field with olfactory attraction assays. When the abundances of foods in their habitat were altered, crabs preferred the odors of foods that were less abundant. Induced feeding preferences were measured at an individual level by recording crab choices among 3 foods in a laboratory choice assay. Crabs more frequently chose foods that they had not experienced during the previous 24 h. As a consequence of this behavior, land hermit crabs consume a broader diet, which may result in crabs obtaining a more nutritionally balanced diet or limiting their exposure to toxins.