Abstract
The stereotypical courtship display (CD) behavior of the male blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, includes an unusual component: the rhythmic waving of the swimming appendages above the carapace. This behavior occurs in a unique context but it resembles two other rhythmic behaviors performed using the swimming legs: sideways swimming and backward swimming. As a first step to understanding the mechanisms that allow the expression of apparently different rhythmic motor patterns, we have examined these behaviors using slow motion video analysis and electromyography of the basal muscles of the swimming legs in freely behaving crabs. The results show that these behaviors are distinguished by four parameters: the frequency of leg waving, the phase relationship between the legs, the presence of a stationary pause in basal muscle activity combined with rotation of the distal leg during CD, and an extended range of motion of these legs during CD and backward swimming, relative to sideways swimming. EMG analysis revealed that during sideways swimming, the sequence of muscular activity between the two legs was different. In contrast, during CD and backward swimming the sequence of activity for these legs is identical.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- CD :
-
courtship display
- EMGs :
-
electromyograms
- CD AMP :
-
courtship display in crabs with amputated fifth legs
- CD1:
-
crabs that voluntarily used one leg to perform courtship display waving
- CD 1–3 :
-
courtship waving in cycles 1–3
- CD MID :
-
courtship waving after cycles 1–3
- M-C :
-
meral-carpal joint
References
Ayers JL, Davis WJ (1977) Neuronal control of locomotion in the lobster, Homarus americanus. J Comp Physiol A 115: 1–27
Clarac F (1982) Decapod crustacean leg coordination during walking. In: Herreid CF, Fourtner CR (eds) Locomotion and energetics in arthropods. Plenum Press, New York, pp 31–71
Clarac F, Libersat F, Pflüger HJ, Rathmayer W (1987) Motor pattern analysis in the shore crab (Carcinus maenas) walking freely in water and on land. J Exp Biol 133: 395–413
Davis WJ (1969) The neural control of swimmeret beating in the lobster. J Exp Biol 50: 99–118
Delcomyn F (1991) Perturbation of the motor system in freely walking cockroaches. I Rear leg amputation and the timing of motor activity in leg muscles. J Exp Biol 156: 483–502
Fraser PJ, Bevengut M, Clarac F (1987) Swimming patterns and the activity of identified equilibrium interneurons in the shore crab, Carcinus maenas. J Exp Biol 130: 305–330
Getting PA (1988) Comparative analysis of invertebrate central pattern generators. In: Cohen AH, Rossigol S, Grillner S (eds) Neural control of rhythmic movements in vertebrates. John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp 101–127
Glantz SA (1992) Primer of biostatistics. McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York
Gleeson RA (1980) Pheromone communication in the reproductive behavior of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. Mar Behav Physiol 7: 119–134
Gleeson RA (1982) Morphology and behavioral identification of the sensory structures mediating pheromone reception in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. Biol Bull 163: 162–171
Gleeson RA (1991) Intrinsic factors mediating pheromone communication in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. In: Bauer RT, Martin JW (eds) Crustacean sexual biology. Columbia University Press, New York, pp. 17–32
Gleeson RA, Adams MA, Smith AB (1987) Hormonal modulation of pheromonemediated behavior in a crustacean. Biol Bull 172: 1–9
Haefner PA (1988) Morphometry and reproductive biology of Callinectes ornatus (Brachyura; Portunidae) in Bermuda. Am Zool 28(4): 133A (Abstract)
Harris-Warrick RM, Johnson BR (1989) Motor pattern networks: flexible foundations for rhythmic pattern production. In: Carew T, Kelley D (eds) Perspectives in Neural Systems and Behavior MBL Lectures in Biology 10, Alan R Liss, New York, pp 51–71
Hartnoll RG (1971) The occurrence, methods and significance of swimming in Brachyura. Anim Behav 19: 34–50
Kravitz EA (1988) Hormonal control of behavior: amines and the biasing of behavioral output in lobsters. Science 241: 1775–1781
Marder E, Nusbaum M (1989) Peptidergic modulation of motor pattern generator in the stomatogastric ganglion. In: Carew T, Kelley D (eds) Perspectives in neural systems and behavior. MBL Lectures in Biology 10. Alan R Liss, New York, pp 73–91
Mulloney B, Acevedo LG, Chrachri AG, Hall WM, Sheriff CF (1990) A confederation of neural circuits: control of swimmeret movements by a modular system of pattern generators. In: Wiese K, Krenz WD, Tautz J, Reichert H, Mulloney B (eds) Frontiers in crustacean neurobiology. Birkhäuser, Basel, pp 439–447
Pasztor VM, Clarac F (1983) An analysis of waving behavior: an alternative motorprogramme for the thoracic appendages of decapod Crustacea. J Exp Biol 102: 59–77
Pearson KG (1985) Are there central pattern generators for walking and flight in insects? In: Barnes WJP, Gladden MH (eds) Feedback and motor control in invertebrates and vertebrates, Croom Helm, London, pp 307–315
Pearson KG, Reye DM, Robertson RM (1983) Phase-dependent influences of wing stretch receptors on flight rhythm in the locust. J Neurophysiol 49: pp 1168–1181
Pyle R, Cronin E (1950) The general anatomy of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun. In: Board of Natural Resources, Dept of Research and Education, State of Maryland Press, pp 2–40
Sillar KT, Clarac F, Bush BMH (1987) Intersegmental coordination of central neural oscillators for rhythmic movements of the walking legs in crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus. J Exp Biol 131: 245–264
Spirito CP (1972) An analysis of swimming behavior in the portunid crab, Callinectes sapidus. Mar Behav Physiol 1: 261–276
Teytaud AR (1971) The laboratory studies of sex recognition in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun. Sea Grant Tech Bull No 15, Univ of Miami Sea Grant Prog, 62 pp
White AQ, Spirito CP (1973) Anatomy and physiology of the swimming leg musculature in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Mar Behav Physiol 2: 141–153
Wilson DM (1961) The central nervous control of flight in a locust. J Exp Biol 38: 471–490
Wood DE (1993) Neuromodulation of rhythmic behaviors in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. PhD Thesis, Georgia State University
Wood DE (1995) Neuromodulation of rhythmic motor patterns in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, by amines and the peptide proctolin. J Comp Physiol A 177: 335–349
Wood DE, Glesson RA, Derby CD (1995) Modulation of behavior by biogenic amines and peptides in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. J Comp Physiol A 177: 321–333
Wood DE, Edwards DH, Gleeson RA, Derby CD (1987) Analysis of the courtship behavior of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. Chem Senses 12: 709 (Abstract)
Zar JH (1974) Biostatistical analysis. Prentice-Hall, Inc, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wood, D.E., Derby, C.D. Coordination and neuromuscular control of rhythmic behaviors in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus . J Comp Physiol A 177, 307–319 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192420
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192420