Meeting Abstract
Chemical signaling among freshwater animals has been studied to provide insight into the functions of complex predator-prey relationships. A subset of chemical signaling systems is the alarm pheromone, which is typically released when an animal is threatened or has been injured. Crayfish are an integral part of the freshwater food web and utilize chemical communication in many capacities ranging from aggression to reproduction. Crayfish are also hypothesized to release alarm chemicals which elicit a negative or flight response in other crayfish. Our study compared the behavioral responses of Orconectes propinquus crayfish using three odorants: a crushed conspecific crayfish, food and predator (Trachemys spp. turtle). We hypothesize that subjects will be repelled from the crushed conspecific crayfish and predator odors due to the presence of an alarm odor, whereas food odorants will be attractive. Furthermore, it is expected that crayfish will prefer neutral territory in the maze or spend more time in the non-odor arm when presented with an alarm/stress signal.
