| defense by symbiotic crustacea of host corals elicited by chemical cues from predator. | observations and experiments carried out on a coral reef off the pacific coast of panamá demonstrated that shrimp (alpheus lottini) and crab (trapezia spp.) symbionts that protect their host coral (pocillopora elegans) can detect an approaching sea star predator (acanthaster planci) by chemical cues. simulated feeding attacks by acanthaster in sealed transparent bags elicited only 0.5 defensive responses (snipping at spines and tube feet, jerking the sea star, and snapping) per 3 min; defensive ... | 1980 | 28309076 |