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2005
LSU-HHMI Summer Undergraduate Research Program |
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Jose M Garza (UTPA), Jim Belanger, Biological Sciences
Neuroethology - Crustacean Orientation in Airborne Odor Plumes
Numerous studies have been completed to determine crustacean orientation behavior in plumes. These studies are carried out in the attempt to discover insight to crustacean physiological and behavioral characteristics involved in locating food sources. Most studies test these odorants in a flume where test subjects and odorant source is submerged partially or entirely within water. In this study a different approach was taken by using airflow as the medium of odor transport for crabs and crayfish that display aquatic and terrestrial characteristics. Numerous trials were done at three speeds of laminar flow. Three odor sources were also used to have differing chemical stimuli. Results suggest that although the majority of the subjects being tested traveled upwind towards the source there was no evident olfactory mediated guidance. It can be concluded that these invertebrates are not able to display positive rheotactic behavior in response to chemical stimuli with airflow as the transport medium.
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