Meeting Abstract
Many aquatic prey gain information from chemical signals in their environment to determine risk and avoid predation. However, the introduction of anthropogenic chemicals can disrupt the ability of an organism to detect olfactory cues in their environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the exposure of a pesticide (carbaryl) effected the ability of different prey (a native and invasive crayfish) to detect odor from a predator (largemouth bass). Crayfish were exposed to a sub-lethal concentration of carbaryl in a flow through model stream for 23 hours. Carbaryl was delivered to mimic a groundwater entry exposure. After exposure, crayfish were then placed in a two-current choice flume and exposed to a predator odor on one side of the flume and clean river water on the other side for a 12 minute behavioral trial. Behaviors quantified during the trial included time in each side of the flume, time in shelters, body posture, and activity levels. Results show that anthropogenic chemicals can alter the ability of crayfish to detect and respond appropriately to bass odor. This work highlights the importance of understanding the potential impacts that anthropogenic chemicals can have on the behavior of organisms and the ability to detect predatory threat.
