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Directional flow sensing by passively stable larvae.

Heidi L Fuchs1, Adam J Christman2, Gregory P Gerbi3

  • 1Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA hfuchs@marine.rutgers.edu.

The Journal of Experimental Biology
|July 12, 2015
PubMed
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Oyster larvae use gravity-sensing organs called statocysts, not cilia, to detect turbulence. This allows them to control vertical movement and initiate dives in response to hydrodynamic signals.

Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Larval Ecology

Background:

  • Mollusc larvae maintain a stable velum-up orientation, influencing their response to hydrodynamic signals.
  • Understanding larval response to fluid motion is crucial for comprehending feeding currents and settlement behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the directional sensing abilities of oyster larvae (Crassostrea virginica) in response to controlled fluid motions.
  • To determine the sensory mechanisms underlying larval responses to turbulence, differentiating between mechanosensors and gravity-detecting organs.

Main Methods:

  • Exposed oyster larvae to shear flow (Couette device) and solid-body rotation (rotating cylinder) in varying orientations.
  • Utilized near-infrared particle-image velocimetry for simultaneous observation of larvae and fluid flow.

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  • Quantified larval behavior in response to strain rate, vorticity, and centripetal acceleration.

    • Main Results:

    • Only flows rotating about a horizontal axis induced the previously observed diving response in oyster larvae.
    • Evidence strongly suggests that statocysts, gravity-detecting organs, are responsible for turbulence sensing, not external mechanosensors like cilia.
    • Larval flow sensing relies on detecting changes in orientation rather than flow deformation.

    Conclusions:

    • Oyster larvae possess a unique flow-sensing mechanism utilizing statocysts, distinguishing them from other zooplankton.
    • Statocyst-mediated sensing enables efficient control of vertical movements, including maintaining upward swimming and initiating dives.
    • This mechanism is vital for larvae navigating turbulent environments in adult habitats and for settlement.