Abstract
The roles of copepod sensory systems in the recognition of food were investigated using the “Bugwatcher”, a video-computer system designed to track and describe quantitatively the swimming patterns of aquatic organisms. The swimming behavior of the copepodPseudocalanus minutus in the presence of phytoplankton is characterized by a decrease in average swimming speed and an increase in “pause” behaviors compared to its swimming behavior in filtered seawater. Copepods exposed to chemosensory stimulation alone (filtered phytoplankton exudate) exhibited an increase in average swimming speed and an increase in the number of “burst” swimming behaviors. When exposed to a novel, non-food chemosensory stimulus (morpholine), no change in swimming behavior was observed unless the copepods had been conditioned to this odor in the presence of phytoplankton. Copepods exposed to mechanosensory stimulation alone (plastic spheres) exhibited a decrease in swimming speed and an increase in pause behaviors. When exposed to both forms of stimulation simultaneously (phytoplankton exudate and plastic spheres), a further decrease in swimming speed and increase in pause behaviors occurs, yielding a swimming pattern similar to that found in the presence of phytoplankton. This analysis of swimming pattern indicates that both chemoreception and mechanoreception contribute to the recognition of food inP. minutus.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Alcarez, M., G. A. Paffenhöfer and J. R. Strickler: Catching the algae: a first account of visual observations on filter-feeding calanoids, pp 241–248.In: Evolution and ecology of zooplankton communities. Ed. by W. C. Kerfoot. Hanover, New Hampshire: The University Press of New England 1980
Bainbridge, R.: Studies on the interrelationships of zooplankton and phytoplankton. J. mar. biol. Assoc. U.K.32, 385–447 (1953)
Cannon, H. G.: On the feeding mechanism of the copepodsCalanus finmarchicus andDiaptomus gracilis. Br. J. exp. Biol.6, 131–144 (1928)
Conover, R. J.: Oceanography of Long Island Sound, 1952–1954. VI. Biology ofAcartia clausi andA. tonsa. Bull. Bingham. oceanogr. Coll.15, 156–233 (1956)
Conover, R. J.: Feeding on large particles byCalanus hyperboreus.In: Some contemporary studies in marine science, pp 187–194. Ed. by H. Barnes. London: Allin and Urwin 1966
Conover, R. J.: Zooplankton — life in a nutritionally dilute environment. Am. Zool.8, 107–118 (1968)
Derby, C. D. and J. Atema: Selective improvement in responses to prey odors by the lobster,Homarus americanus following feeding experience. J. chem. Ecol.7, 1073–1080 (1981)
Donaghay, P. L. and L. F. Small: Food selection capabilities of the estuarine copepodAcartia clausi. Mar. Biol.52, 137–146 (1979)
Dunham, P. J.: Sex pheromones in crustacea. Biol. Rev.53, 555–583 (1978)
Elofsson, R.: The nauplius eye and frontal organs of the nonmalocostraca (Crustacea). Sarsia25, 1–128 (1966)
Friedman, M. M.: Comparative morphology and functional significance of copepod receptors and oral structures, pp 185–197.In: Evolution and ecology of zooplankton communities. Ed. by W. C. Kerfoot. Hanover, New Hampshire: The University Press of New England 1980
Friedman, M. M. and J. R. Strickler: Chemoreceptors and feeding in calanoid copepods (Arthropoda: Crustacea). Proc. natl Acad. Sci. USA72, 4185–4188 (1975)
Frost, B. W.: Feeding behavior ofCalanus pacificus in mixtures of food particles. Limnol. Oceanogr.22, 472–491 (1977)
Fuzessery, Z. M. and J. J. Childress: Comparative chemosensitivity to amino acids and their role in the feeding activity of bathypelagic and littoral crustaceans. Biol. Bull. mar. Biol. Lab.: Woods Hole149, 522–538 (1975)
Gauld, D. T.: Diurnal variations in the grazing of planktonic copepods. J. mar. biol. Assoc. U.K.31, 461–474 (1953)
Gauld, D. T.: The swimming and feeding of planktonic copepods.In: Some contemporary studies in marine science pp 187–194. Ed. by H. Barnes. London: Allin and Urwin 1966
Griffiths, A. M. and B. W. Frost: Chemical communication in the marine planktonic copepodsCalanus pacificus andPseudocalanus sp. Crustaceana30, 1–8 (1976)
Guillard, R. R. L. and J. H. Ryther: Studies on marine planktonic diatoms. I.Cyclotella nana Hustedt andDetonula confervacea (Cleve) Gran. Can. J. Microbiol.8, 229–239 (1962)
Hamner, P. and W. M. Hamner: Chemosensory tracking of scent trails by the planktonic shrimpAcetes sibogae australis. Science (Wash.)195, 886–888 (1977)
Hasler, A. S., A. T. Scholz and R. M. Horrall: Olfactory imprinting and homing in salmon. Am. Sci.66, 347–355 (1978)
Hindley, J. P. R.: The detection, location and recognition of food by juvenile banana prawns,Penaeus merquiensis (de Man). Mar. Behav. Physiol.3, 193–210 (1975)
Katona, S. K.: Evidence for sex pheromones in planktonic copepods. Limnol. Oceanogr.18, 574–583 (1973)
Kerfoot, W. C.: Combat between predatory copepods and their prey:Cyclops, Epischura andBosmina. Limnol. Oceanogr.23, 1089–1102 (1978)
Koehl, M. A. R. and J. R. Strickler: Copepod feeding currents: food capture at low Reynolds number. Limnol. Oceanogr.26, 1062–1073 (1981)
Landry, M. R.: Predatory feeding behavior of a marine copepod,Labidocera trispinosa. Limnol. Oceanogr.23, 1103–1113 (1978)
Landry, M. R.: Detection of prey byCalanus pacificus: implications of the first antennae. Limnol. Oceanogr.25, 545–549 (1980)
Laverack, M. S.: Aspects of chemoreception in crustacea. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.8, 141–151 (1963)
Ong, J. E.: The fine structure of the mandibular sensory receptors in the brackish water copepodGladioferens pectinatus. Z. Zellforsch.97, 178–195 (1969)
Paffenhöfer, G. A.: The effects of suspended “red mud” on mortality body weight, and growth of the marine planktonic copepod,Calanus helgolandicus. Water Air Soil Pollut.1, 314–321 (1972)
Paffenhöfer, G. A., J. R. Strickler and M. Alcarez: Suspension feeding by herbivorous calanoid copepods: a cinematographic study. Mar. Biol.67, 193–199 (1982)
Poulet, S. A. and P. Marsot: Chemosensory grazing by marine calanoid copepods (Arthropoda: Crustacea). Science, N. Y.200, 1403–1405 (1978)
Poulet, S. A. and G. Ouellet: The role of amino acids in the chemosensory swarming and feeding of marine copepods. J. Plankt. Res.4, 341–361 (1982)
Richman, S. and J. N. Rogers: Feeding ofCalanus helgolandicus on synchronously growing populations of the marine diatomDitylum brightwellii. Limnol. Oceanogr.14, 701–709 (1969)
Schmitt, B. C. and B. W. Ache: Olfaction: responses of a decapod crustacean are enhanced by flicking. Science (Wash.)205, 204–206 (1979)
Scholz, A. T., R. M. Horrall, J. C. Cooper, A. D. Hasler, D. M. Madison, R. J. Poff and R. I. Daly: Artificial imprinting of salmon and trout in Lake Michigan Wis. Dep. nat. Resour. Fish. Manage. Rep. 80. 46 pp. 1975
Shifrin, N. S.: The measurement of dissolved organic carbon released by phytoplankton. Estuaries3, 230–233 (1980)
Smith, K. L., Jr. and R. J. Baldwin: Scavenging deep-sea amphipods: effects of food odor on oxygen consumption and a proposed metabolic strategy. Mar. Biol.68, 287–298 (1982)
Strickler, J. R.: Intra- and interspecific information flow among planktonic copepods: receptors. Int. Ver. theor. angew. Limnol. Verh.19, 2951–2958 (1975)
Strickler, J. R.: Calanoid copepods, feeding currents, and the role of gravity. Science, N. Y.218, 158–160 (1982)
Strickler, J. R. and A. K. Bal: Setae of the first antennae of the copepodCyclops scutifer (Sars): their structure and importance. Proc. natl Acad. Sci., USA70, 2656–2659 (1973)
Wilson, D. C.: Food size selection among copepods. Ecology54, 909–914 (1973)
Wilson, R. S. and J. O. B. Greaves: The evolution of the bugsystem: recent progress in the analysis of bio-behavioral data, pp 251–272.In: Advances in marine environmental research. Ed. by F. S. Jacoff. Proc. Symp. U.S. EPA (EPA-600/9-79-035) 1979
Zaret, R. E.: The animal and its viscous environment, pp 3–9.In: Evolution and ecology of zooplankton communities. Ed. by W. C. Kerfoot. Hanover, New Hampshire: The University Press of New England 1980
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by S. K. Pierce, College Park
Contribution No. 406 of the US EPA Environmental Research Laboratory; Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, USA
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Buskey, E.J. Swimming pattern as an indicator of the roles of copepod sensory systems in the recognition of food. Mar. Biol. 79, 165–175 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00951825
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00951825