Meeting Abstract

P1.123  Jan. 4  Evidence that 3-decanol in hermit crab blood signals shell availability to conspecifics RITTSCHOF, D*; SCHMIDT, G; HARDER, T; Duke University Marine Laboratory; University of Oldenburg ; University of Oldenburg Ritt@duke.edu

Hermit crabs in poorly fitting shells are attracted to gastropod- and hermit crab predation sites where they interact and obtain new gastropod shells. Hermit crab hemolymph attracts conspecifics within minutes (Rittschof et al., 1992). We hypothesized aquatic hermit crabs respond to volatile molecules in hemolymph as do land hermit crabs (Thacker, 1994; Small & Thacker, 1994).Volatiles from seawater, hemolymph of hermit crabs (Clibanarius vittatus and Pagurus pollicaris) and several brachyuran crabs were purged from a water-hemolymph solution, trapped in seawater and tested for induction of shell-investigation behavior in shell investigation bioassays. Volatiles extracted from crustacean hemolymph by headspace solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) were analysed by coupled gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS). Two alcohols, 3-decanol unique to C. vittatus hemolymph, and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, present in hemolymph of all tested crustacean species, were tested in shell investigation bioassays. 3-decanol stimulated shell-investigation behavior in C. vittatus. The response of crabs to 3-decanol, a volatile water soluble molecule, supports the hypothesis that detection and responses to a lest some odors evolved before terrestriality.