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MEPS 261:217-231 (2003)
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Abstract
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Role of olfactory appendages in chemically mediated orientation of blue crabs
Troy A. Keller1,2, Ian Powell1, Marc J. Weissburg1,*
1School of Biology, 310 Ferst Drive, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0290, USA
2Present address: Department of Water Resources, St. Johns River Water Management District, PO Box 1429 Patalka, Florida 32178, USA
*Corresponding author. Email: marc.weissburg@biology.gatech.edu
ABSTRACT: Benthic crustaceans such as the blue crab Callinectes sapidus use various sensory appendages to navigate chemical plumes. We characterized the role of different sensory structures in blue crabs during olfactory search by deafferenting
(i.e. removing or rendering inactive) particular sensor populations and by quantifying odor-plume structure and flow dynamics. Our results indicate that blue crabs use both cephalic and thoracic appendages for olfactory-mediated orientation. Cephalic
chemosensor deafferentation decreased search success, reduced walking speed and increased the duration of stationary periods. All these deficiencies are manifestations of the inability of crabs to sustain upstream progress. Crabs subjected to
deafferentation of thoracic sensilla failed to correctly track the narrowing plume and showed an increased frequency of large course-corrections. Whereas cephalic sensors clearly function in motivating upstream movement during the search process, thoracic
receptors aid in source localization. The differing functional roles of these 2 sets of appendages may be associated with different signal characteristics impinging on their chemosensor populations. Intermittent but intense signals received by the
cephalic appendages may enable the crabs to identify attractive odors and sustain searching. Chemical signals impinging on legs are more homogeneous and may allow the crabs to acquire better information on the spatial patterns of chemical signal structure
that are important for navigation. The simultaneous use of chemical signals at differing heights in the plume suggest that the 3D structure of these plumes is important for foraging success, and that different populations of neural receptors may be tuned
to operate optimally in particular signal environments.
KEY WORDS: Antennules · Chemical plumes · Chemoreception · Perireceptor processes · Predator-prey interactions · Sensory biology · Turbulence
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
261
(2003) on October 17
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2003
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