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Desensitization and Recovery of Crayfish Photoreceptors Upon Delivery of a Light Stimulus
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Chemical cues from fish heighten visual sensitivity in larval crabs through changes in photoreceptor structure and
Corie L Charpentier1, Jonathan H Cohen2
1School of Marine Science and Policy, College of Earth, Ocean and Environment, University of Delaware, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE 19958, USA charpecl@udel.edu.
The Journal of Experimental Biology
|November 6, 2015
Summary
Predator chemical cues (kairomones) enhance larval crabs' light sensitivity and swimming responses. This behavioral plasticity results from rapid changes in their eye structure and photoreceptor function.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Zooplankton behavior
- Sensory ecology
Background:
- Zooplankton use light for predator avoidance.
- Predator chemical cues (kairomones) modulate light responses.
- Mechanisms of cue integration in zooplankton are poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate how larval crabs integrate visual and chemical cues.
- Understand the mechanistic basis of phenotypic plasticity in defensive photobehavior.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral assays with two larval crab species (Rhithropanopeus harrisii, Hemigrapsus sanguineus).
- Electrophysiological recordings (V-log I curves) of crab eye responses.
- Morphological analysis of crab photoreceptors.
Main Results:
- Increased kairomone concentrations heightened sensitivity to light-mediated swimming.
- Acute kairomone exposure increased retinal visual sensitivity.
- Photoreceptor changes included wider, shorter rhabdoms.
- Increased visual sensitivity did not decrease temporal resolution; latency increased.
Conclusions:
- Phenotypic plasticity in larval crab photobehavior involves rapid changes in photoreceptor structure and function.
- Larval crabs can adjust visual sensitivity in response to predator chemical cues.
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