Summary
Ablation experiments demonstrated that in several crustacean groups, the proximal eyestalk ganglia are important in a variety of behavior patterns:
-
1.
Chemical elicitation of feeding via the antennules is altered in lobsters, hermit crabs, and some brachyuran crabs by bilateral eyestalk ablation; the ablation of one antennule and the contralateral eyestalk is effective in lobsters and hermit crabs;
-
2.
increased chewing of inedible objects occurs in all three groups following eyestalk ablation;
-
3.
postural alterations in lobsters and hermit crabs occur following eyestalk ablation;
-
4.
escape responses in lobsters occur only after considerable tactile input in eyestalk-less animals;
-
5.
shell entry by hermit crabs takes much longer following complete eyestalk ablation, in contrast to control operations in which just the distal elements of both eyes are removed.
It is suggested that all of the behavioral alterations seen following eyestalk ablation can be considered a result of the removal of temporal attenuation of stimulus input by themedulla terminalis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bullock, T. H., Horridge, G. A.: Structure and function in the nervous systems of invertebrates, vol. II, pp. 1719. San Francisco: 1965.
Bush, B. M., Wiersma, C. A. G., Waterman, T. H.: Efferent mechanoreceptive responses in the optic nerve of the crabPodophthalmus. J. cell. comp. Physiol.64, 327–346 (1964).
Chapple, W. D.: Sensory modalities and receptive fields in the abdominal nervous system of the hermit crab,Pagurus granosimanus (Stimpson). J. exp. Biol.44, 209–223 (1966).
Hazlett, B. A.: The behavior of some deep-water hermit crabs (Decapoda: Paguridea) from the straits of Florida. Bull. Mar. Sci.16, 76–92 (1966).
- Ritualization in marine crustacea. In: Recent advances in the study of marine behavior, H. E. Winn (ed.). New York: Pergamon Press (in press).
—, Provenzano, A. J., Jr.: Development of behavior in laboratory reared hermit crabs. Bull. Mar. Sci.15, 616–633 (1965).
Maynard, D. M., Dingle, H.: An effect of eyestalk ablation on antennular function in the spiny lobster,Panulirus argus. Z. vergl. Physiol.46, 515–540 (1963).
—, Sallee, A.: Disturbance of feeding behavior in the spiny lobster,Panulirus argus, following bilateral ablation of themedulla terminalis. Z. vergl. Physiol.66, 123–140 (1970).
—, Yager, J. G.: Function of an eyestalk ganglion, themedulla terminalis, in olfactory integration in the lobster,Panulirus argus. Z. vergl. Physiol.59, 241–249 (1968).
Reese, E. S.: The behavioral mechanisms underlying shell selection by hermit crabs. Behaviour21, 78–126 (1963).
Waterman, T. H., Wiersma, C. A. G.: Electrical responses in decapod crustacean visual systems. J. cell. comp. Physiol.61, 1–16 (1963).
Wiersma, C. A. G., Bush, B. M. H., Waterman, T. H.: Efferent visual responses of contralateral origin in the optic nerve of the crabPodophthalmus. J. cell. comp. Physiol.64, 309–326 (1964).
—, Yamaguchi, T.: Integration of visual stimuli by the crayfish central nervous system. J. exp. Biol.47, 409–431 (1967).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Contribution 363 from the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneohe, Hawaii. This work was supported by grant MH-02487 from the National Institutes of Health. Thanks are given to D. Maynard for his interest during all phases of the research and for his comments on the manuscript, and to John Garth of the Allen Hancock Foundation for identification of the Xanthid crabs.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hazlett, B.A. Non-visual functions of crustacean eyestalk ganglia. Z. Vergl. Physiol. 71, 1–13 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01245153
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01245153