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Published on: February 7, 2014
Two sniffing strategies in palinurid lobsters
1Biology Department, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
The Journal of Experimental Biology
|November 15, 2002
Summary
Lobster chemoreception differs between species. Palinurus elephas exhibits faster antennule flicking than Panulirus argus, revealing distinct strategies for sensing chemical plumes.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Animal Behavior
- Sensory Ecology
Background:
- Chemoreception studies in lobsters primarily use Panulirus argus and Homarus americanus.
- Antennule morphology and flicking kinematics are key to understanding lobster chemosensory behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- Compare antennule morphology in lobsters.
- Conduct the first kinematic study of antennule flicking in Palinurus elephas.
- Investigate differences in chemosensory strategies between palinurid species.
Main Methods:
- High-speed video analysis of antennule flicking kinematics.
- Comparative analysis of antennule morphology across palinurid genera.
- Calculation of Reynolds number (Re) for flicking phases.
Main Results:
- Palinurus elephas flicks antennules significantly faster than Panulirus argus.
- Both species exhibit leaky closing and non-leaky opening flick phases at a Reynolds number of approximately one.
- Panulirus species possess longer antennular flagella, enabling sampling of larger water volumes.
Conclusions:
- Palinurid lobsters utilize distinct chemosensory strategies: high-frequency flicking (P. elephas) or low-frequency flicking over larger areas (P. argus).
- The unique antennule anatomy and kinematics of Panulirus suggest specialized adaptations for detecting chemical plumes.
