The sensory world of animals is a complex blend of concurrent stimuli, and behavior emerging from this sensory input commonly depends on multiple types of sensory information. In zooplankton, chemical odors emitted from predators, such as fish, result in increased swimming behavior when exposed to light stimuli. This translates into increased survival because swimming in response to light forms the basis of numerous predator-avoidance behaviors that zooplankton rely on in order to survive in their open water habitat. This project uses the mud crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii as a model organism to advance our understanding of how zooplankton integrate information across multiple sensory modalities.
Scanning electron micrograph of zoea larva of R. harrisii.
Specifically, we are using microscopy, electrophysiology, and behavior to study how odor and light control predator-avoidance behavior by asking the question: Is the effect of predator odor on zooplankton photoresponses operating at the level of primary photoreceptors in the retina of a larval crab, or do chemical cues from the environment alter behavior by influencing higher-level neural processing of visual information? In essence, we are eavesdropping into the animal’s sensory system to find the confluence of chemical and visual information which ultimately leads to ecologically significant behaviors. This project if funded by the University of Delaware Research Foundation.
Jon Cohen, Corie Charpentier (graduate student), and Alex Wright (2013 UDRF REU intern)