Comparison of chemosensory activation of antennular grooming behaviour in five species of decapods

Abstract

Many, if not all, decapod crustaceans engage in antennular grooming behaviour (AGB). It consists of two repetitive components: antennule wiping followed by autogrooming of the third maxillipeds. We have shown previously that, in Panulirus argus, AGB can be strongly induced only by a chemical found in prey extracts, L-glutamate (Glu). In contrast many chemicals induce other behaviours in crustaceans, such as foraging. We have examined whether other decapods, including the lobsters P. guttatus, P. interruptus, and Homarus americanus and the brachyuran Callinectes sapidus, exhibit chemically mediated AGB. Individuals were tested with 14 putative chemical stimuli found in prey extracts and with artificial seawater as a control stimulus, and the number of wipes in 2 min was recorded. Only Glu (0.5 mmol) elicited significant AGB in the three lobster species. In contrast C. sapidus exhibited no significant responses to chemical stimuli presented at 0.5 or 5 mmol, although it was frequently observed to wipe its antennules. We propose that chemosensory activation of AGB by Glu may be the typical behaviour for most lobsters but have been lost in the crabs.