Salinity detection and associated behavior in the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister
Dungeness crabs, Cancer magister, showed the same antennular flicking response to brief (<2 min) salinity fluctuations as they have previously shown in detecting chemical food cues during other studies. The threshold concentrations at which 50% of the crabs detected the salinity changes were 29.9% and 32.7% or 96% and 105% of ambient seawater (31.0%). At the maximum salinity changes used, other behaviors accompanied the flicking response. In a second experiment where salinity rose or fell continuously, two previously undescribed behaviors, pulsing and closure, occurred. In pulsing, crabs showed a rapid coordinated opening and closing of the outer maxillipeds with rapid beating of the maxillipedal flagellae. In closure, crabs stopped all overt activity, retracted their appendages and tightly closed the buccal cavity with the other maxillipeds. Under increasing salinity crabs exhibited pulsing at 349% or 113% of ambient seawater and closure at 36.2% or 117% of ambient. Under decreasing salinity crabs showed pulsing at 232% or 75% of ambient seawater and closure at 155% or 50% of ambient. 40 references, 2 figures.
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Pacific Northwest Lab., Sequim, WA
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6263815
- Journal Information:
- Estuaries; (United States), Journal Name: Estuaries; (United States) Vol. 6:4; ISSN ESTUD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
560304* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Invertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CRABS
CRUSTACEANS
DECAPODS
FLUCTUATIONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INVERTEBRATES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SALINITY
SEAWATER
VARIATIONS
WATER
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CRABS
CRUSTACEANS
DECAPODS
FLUCTUATIONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INVERTEBRATES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SALINITY
SEAWATER
VARIATIONS
WATER