The neuroethology of C. elegans escape

Escape behaviors are crucial to survive predator encounters. Touch to the head of Caenorhabditis elegans induces an escape response where the animal rapidly backs away from the stimulus and suppresses foraging head movements. The coordination of head and body movements facilitates escape from predacious fungi that cohabitate with nematodes in organic debris. An appreciation of the natural habitat of laboratory organisms, like C. elegans, enables a comprehensive neuroethological analysis of behavior. In this review we discuss the neuronal mechanisms and the ecological significance of the C. elegans touch response.

► C. elegans coordinates head and body movements during a touch induced escape response. ► The complete sensory-motor circuit that controls the C. elegans escape response is known. ► Predacious fungi catch nematodes using hyphal trapping devices. ► The C. elegans escape response increases its odds of surviving encounters with predacious fungi. ► Study of the natural habitat of genetic model organisms allows for a comprehensive neuroetholigical analysis of behavior.