Mahon, A.R.*; Amsler, C.D.; McClintock, J.B.; Baker, B.J.: Chemo-tactile predator avoidance responses of the antarctic limpet, Nacella concinna

The antarctic limpet Nacella concinna has the ability to escape potential predation by the highly mobile and predaceous sea star Neosmilaster georgianus. When the sea star comes into contact with the limpet, the limpet undergoes characteristic avoidance behaviors that include an extension of its pallial tenticles, a rasing of its shell in a mushroom-like fashion, a shell rotation, and flight. These behaviors were not induced by the omnivorous sea star, Odontaster validus which occupies the same habitats as N. georgainus. Crude hydrophilic extracts from N. georgianus also induced the avoidane behaviors, showing that this response is mediated by chemical as well as tactile stimuli. In the field, N. georgianus and O. validus were rarely seen feeding on N. concinna, and there was no difference in the incidence of limpet predation between the two sea stars. The escape behaviors displayed by N. concinna appear to be an effective behavior to deter predation by N. georgianus.