Environmental microbiomes drive chemotactile sensation in octopus

Area of Science:

• Sensory biology
• Microbial ecology
• Animal behavior

Background:

• Microbial communities inhabit diverse environments and co-evolve with animals.
• The role of microbial cues in animal navigation and behavior is largely unexplored.
• Octopuses utilize chemotactile receptors (CRs) for surface exploration, but discrimination mechanisms remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how octopuses distinguish ecologically relevant surfaces using microbial cues.
• To identify the specific microbial signals and sensory pathways involved in octopus behavior.
• To understand the evolutionary implications of interkingdom interactions in sensory systems.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of secreted molecules from bacterial strains on various surfaces.
• Electrophysiological recordings of octopus chemotactile receptors (CRs).
• Behavioral assays to assess octopus responses to microbial signals.

Main Results:

• Secreted signals from surface microbiomes activate octopus CRs.
• Distinct bacterial molecules bind to CRs, inducing specific activation and signaling.
• These microbial cues guide octopus behaviors such as predation and maternal care.

Conclusions:

• Microbiomes on ecological surfaces provide primary sensory cues that inform octopus behavior.
• Interkingdom interactions between microbes and animals are crucial for sensory system evolution.
• This study highlights the importance of microbial signals in shaping animal sensory perception and behavior.