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The Sensory Mechanisms of Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) Used in Detecting Predatory Threats

Clark, Jessica
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1490027671892276

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, Biological Sciences.
Organisms are exposed to numerous environmental stimuli in which they must be able to distinguish threats from food sources. In order to make such distinctions, organisms rely upon sensory mechanisms, including chemoreception, vision, and mechanoreception. With the reception of chemical, visual, and/or mechanical cues prey species can determine the location, size, and movement of a nearby predator. Then, with the information gathered, prey can determine the severity of the threat and respond accordingly, whether to flee or to display a defensive stance. Various studies suggest that several aquatic species, including crayfish, rely on the integration of sensory modalities to accurately assess predatory threats. This study aimed to determine whether a hierarchy in the reliance upon sensory modalities exists in crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) and if this hierarchy is altered across different sensory environments (such as flowing and non-flowing environments). We also sought to determine the significance of sensory multimodality in crayfish. To study the relevance of each of the sensory modalities, as well as the integration of these modalities, in crayfish combinations of lesions/blocks were conducted. Two sensory mechanisms (chemical and mechanical, chemical and visual, or visual and mechanical) were lesioned/blocked at once, leaving one sensory mechanism (vision, mechanoreception, or chemoreception) functional. Each of the crayfish were then exposed to a predatory largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in either a flowing or non-flowing stream where their behavior was recorded for 30 minutes. The behaviors and movements of the crayfish were then analyzed with the use of Ethovison Noldus XT. Linear mixed models were then conducted to determine the impact of the lesions, flowing environments, and the combination of iv the lesions and flowing environments on the ability of crayfish to detect predatory stimulus. Significant Least Squares Means (LSM) test were followed by Type II Wald Chisquare tests. Results from this study support the significance of sensory multimodality in crayfish for accurately detecting and assessing predatory threats. When the sensory multimodality of crayfish was eliminated the animals were challenged to successfully assess the severity of the predator. Crayfish with only the full use of chemoreceptors or mechanoreceptors showed a greater avoidance of the predator, indicating that these individuals could detect the threat but could not accurately locate the source. Results from this study also suggest that a hierarchy in the reliance upon sensory modalities does exist in crayfish, with a bias towards chemoreception, followed by mechanoreception, and finally vision.
Paul Moore (Advisor)
Jeffrey Miner (Committee Member)
Daniel Wiegmann (Committee Member)
51 p.
Aquatic Sciences; Behavioral Sciences; Biology; Ecology
sensory modalities; multimodality; sensory hierarchy; crayfish; predator-prey interactions; nonconsumptive effects

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Clark, J. (2017). The Sensory Mechanisms of Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) Used in Detecting Predatory Threats [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1490027671892276

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Clark, Jessica. The Sensory Mechanisms of Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) Used in Detecting Predatory Threats. 2017. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1490027671892276.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Clark, Jessica. "The Sensory Mechanisms of Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) Used in Detecting Predatory Threats." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1490027671892276

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1490027671892276
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This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.