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Chemical Orientation Strategies of the Crayfish, Orconectes virilis are Influenced by the Hydrodynamics of their Native Environment: An Example of Sensory Bias

Ferrante, Peter A.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1213281400

Abstract Details

2008, Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, Biological Sciences.
The function of a sensory system is to effectively extract relevant information about the environment in order for an organism to make behavioral decisions. Sensory stimuli can be shaped, in part, by their propagation within the local habitat. In order to separate relevant information from background noise, sensory systems are equipped with filters. Because information differs between environments, sensory filters are matched to the specific environment in which an organism lives, thus developing what are known as 'matched filters.' An organism's sensory filters are therefore 'tuned' to the demands of its unique sensory environment. The 'tuning' of an organism's sensory system is caused by the pre-existing sensory biases that are inherent within an organism. As interactions between an organism and its environment are continued over time, natural selection will drive an organism's sensory biases to align, or become 'tuned,' to use types of information that are relevant within the specific environment. The purpose of this thesis is to determine how the sensory biases of aquatic organisms will influence their behavior in response to chemical information. In order to ascertain this knowledge, the orientation behavior of crayfish, Orconectes virilis originating from two distinct hydrodynamic habitats (i.e. lentic and lotic) was tested. Crayfish originating from each habitat were allowed to orient to an odor source under both lentic and lotic conditions. We analyzed both spatial (e.g. heading angle) and temporal (e.g. walking speed) characteristics of the orientation patterns. The results of this study showed that each type of crayfish displayed unique orientation behaviors under each condition. From these results we conclude that lentic and lotic crayfish, O. virilis have behaviors that are uniquely 'tuned' to the hydrodynamics of their native habitat. Furthermore, this supports the theory that 'sensory biases' drive an organism to develop 'matched filters.'
Paul Moore, PhD (Committee Chair)
Sheryl Coombs, PhD (Committee Member)
Verner Bingman, PhD (Committee Member)
64 p.
Zoology
orientation; crayfish; hydrodynamic; flow; sensory bias

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ferrante, P. A. (2008). Chemical Orientation Strategies of the Crayfish, Orconectes virilis are Influenced by the Hydrodynamics of their Native Environment: An Example of Sensory Bias [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1213281400

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ferrante, Peter. Chemical Orientation Strategies of the Crayfish, Orconectes virilis are Influenced by the Hydrodynamics of their Native Environment: An Example of Sensory Bias. 2008. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1213281400.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ferrante, Peter. "Chemical Orientation Strategies of the Crayfish, Orconectes virilis are Influenced by the Hydrodynamics of their Native Environment: An Example of Sensory Bias." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1213281400

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1213281400
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© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.