COMPARATIVE CHEMOSENSITIVITY TO AMINO ACIDS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE FEEDING ACTIVITY OF BATHYPELAGIC AND LITTORAL...

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Animal Behavior
• Neuroethology

Background:

• Amino acids are crucial chemical cues for marine invertebrates.
• Understanding chemosensory responses is vital for marine ecology and fisheries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the feeding response thresholds of five marine crustacean species to an amino acid mixture.
• To investigate the electrophysiological responses of selected crustacean chemoreceptors to the amino acid mixture.
• To assess the specificity of amino acid receptors in a marine crustacean.

Main Methods:

• Behavioral assays measuring feeding responses across a range of amino acid concentrations (10^-7 to 10^-12 M).
• Electrophysiological recordings from chemoreceptors (antennules, dactyls, maxillipeds) in response to amino acid stimuli.
• Testing receptor specificity using different types of amino acids.

Main Results:

• Behavioral thresholds varied significantly, with *Gnathophausia ingens*, *Pleuroncodes planipes*, and *Cancer antennarius* showing high sensitivity (10^-10 to 10^-12 M).
• *Spirontocaris taylori* and *Pagurus hirsutiusculus* had lower sensitivity (10^-7 to 10^-9 M).
• Electrophysiological thresholds differed between species and receptor types, with *G. ingens* showing higher sensitivity than *C. antennarius*.

Conclusions:

• Marine crustaceans exhibit diverse sensitivities to amino acid-based food cues.
• Specific amino acids and receptor types play key roles in crustacean chemoreception.
• Findings contribute to understanding marine invertebrate feeding behavior and chemical sensing.