Behavioral Responses of the Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) to Live Amphiporous angulatus and Its Bipyridyl Toxins
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Authors
Kline, John K.
Issue Date
1986
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Nemertean worms have eversible proboscises that
deliver pyridine compounds which paralyze their prey.
Pyridine compounds have also been found in the skin of
nemertean worms and they are thought to be effective in
deterring the worms' predators. Two bipyridyl
compounds, anabaseine and 2,3'-bipyridyl, have been
purified from a nemertean worm species. The spiny
lobster Panulirus argus is thought to be a potential
predator of benthic living nemerteans. Live nemertean
worms were delivered, via a glass tube, to the
chemoreceptive dactylus segment of the spiny lobster's
walking leg. Various doses of each bipyridyl were also
delivered to the dactylus segment via a glass tube and
saturated cotton swabs. Lobster's behavioral responses
to the live worms and to the bipyridyls were compared
and it was found that neither 2,3'-bipyridyl or
anabaseine, at worm equivalent concentrations, act to
deter lobster's consummatory behavior like a live
nemertean worm deters consumption. Shortly following
the delivery of the high concentrations of
2,3'-bipyridyl the lobsters were nonlocally paralyzed.
Since worm equivalent concentrations of the bipyridyls
do not elicit avoidance behavior there must be other
chemicals present in the worm that work in conjunction
with the bipyridyls in acting as a predator defense.
Preliminary work, using dialysis tubing to separate a
nemertean worm homogenate, was done in an attempt to
find out what kind of mixture interaction is working to
defend nemertean worms.
Description
vii, 30 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
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