Developmental plasticity of respiratory behavior in Lymnaea

Area of Science:

• Zoology
• Animal Behavior
• Physiology

Background:

• Lymnaea stagnalis exhibits bimodal respiration, utilizing both skin and lung.
• Understanding the role of experience in respiratory development is crucial for behavioral plasticity research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how experience influences the development and maintenance of pulmonary respiration in Lymnaea stagnalis.
• To determine if Lymnaea stagnalis can develop and function without pulmonary respiration.
• To explore the reversibility of respiratory behavior changes.

Main Methods:

• Snails were reared from eggs to adulthood without access to lung respiration (differentially reared).
• Adult, normally reared snails had pulmonary respiration prevented.
• Respiratory behaviors, including pneumostome control and quantitative aspects, were observed and compared.

Main Results:

• Lymnaea stagnalis can develop and survive without pulmonary respiration.
• Differentially reared snails retained the ability to open and close their pneumostomes as adults.
• Quantitative aspects of respiratory behavior were significantly altered in snails deprived of pulmonary respiration.
• Behavioral changes induced by preventing pulmonary respiration were reversible.

Conclusions:

• Pulmonary respiration in Lymnaea stagnalis is not essential for development or survival.
• Experience significantly impacts the quantitative aspects of respiratory behavior.
• The observed changes in respiratory behavior are developmentally specific and reversible.
• Lymnaea stagnalis serves as a valuable model for studying behavioral plasticity.