COMPARATIVE CHEMOSENSITIVITY TO AMINO ACIDS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE FEEDING ACTIVITY OF BATHYPELAGIC AND LITTORAL CRUSTACEANS

Abstract

1. Feeding response exhibition in five marine crustaceans was observed in the presence of a range of concentrations of an amino acid mixture composed of equal parts DL alpha arnino-n-butyric acid, L-glutamic acid and taurine. Gnathophausiaingens, Pleuroncodes planipes, and Cancer antennarius displayed behavioral thresh olds of between 10^-10 and 10^-12 M; Spirontocaris taylori and Pagurus hirsutiusculus displayed thresholds between 10^-7 and 10^-9 M. 2. Electrophysiological response thresholds to the amino acid mixture were examined in G. ingens and C. antennarius. The antennular and dactyl receptors of G. ingens displayed thresholds of 10^-7 and 10^-8 M respectively. Maxilliped and dactyl receptors of C. antennarius both displayed a threshold of 5 x 10^-5 M. 3. Panulirus interruptus antennule receptors displayed a degree of specificity to mono- and dicarboxylic amino acids.