Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9448627 | Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology | 2005 | 11 Pages |
Abstract
Visual cues play an important role in crustacean shelter-seeking behavior. We hypothesize that Synalpheus demani, an obligate crinoid-dwelling snapping shrimp, uses visual cues in host location. We tested shrimp response to rectangular visual targets that subtended 10°, 30°, 90°, 180°, and 270° in a circular arena in background seawater and in seawater containing host odor. In background seawater, S. demani oriented to solid visual targets of 90° and larger, and avoided the 10° and 30° target. Orientation to targets is interpreted as refuge-seeking behavior. Avoidance is speculated as predator-avoidance behavior. Shrimp oriented to large visual targets in sea water and host odor. The presence of host odor altered avoidance responses of a significant number, but not all, shrimp to small targets. Host odor also increased shrimp activities in the arena. Synalpheus demani oriented to 90° patterned (vertical and horizontal stripes, and checker board) targets, but they did not orient to 270° patterned targets. This was interpreted as positive scototaxis, which is common in many crustaceans. Thus we conclude that visual orientation of S. demani is similar to that of free-living snapping shrimp.
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Authors
Hsin-Drow Huang, Dan Rittschof, Ming-Shiou Jeng,