Function of chemoreceptor organs in spatial orientation of the lobster, Homarus americanus: differences and overlap

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Biol. Bull.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1541504· OSTI ID:6981346

Devine, D V; Atema, J

Three of the lobster's main chemoreceptor organs, the lateral and medial antennules (representing smell) and the dactylus-propodus segments of the walking legs (representing taste), are physiologically quite similar. The authors examined their role in spatial orientation in a food-odor stimulus field. Control animals almost always oriented correctly and immediately to an odor plume. Lobsters with unilateral ablations of lateral antennules lost this ability, but did not show preferential turning toward the intact side. Unilateral medial antennule ablation did not affect orientation. Removal of all aesthetasc hairs from one lateral antennule caused loss of orientation ability less severe than unilateral ablation of the entire lateral antennule. Lobsters with unilaterally ablated lateral antennules and blocked walking leg receptors turned preferentially toward the side of the intact antennule. Thus, it appears that intact lobsters orient in odor space by tropotaxis principally using aesthetasc receptor input. Since loss of appendages is relatively common in lobsters, this partial overlap of organ function may serve the animal well in nature.

• Research Organization: Boston Univ. Marine Program, Woods Hole, MA
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76EV02546
• OSTI ID: 6981346
• Journal Information: Biol. Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Biol. Bull.; (United States) Vol. 163:1; ISSN BIBUA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551000* -- Physiological Systems
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
CHEMORECEPTORS
CRUSTACEANS
DECAPODS
FUNCTIONS
INVERTEBRATES
LOBSTERS
ODOR
ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES
ORIENTATION
RECEPTORS