Meeting Abstract

134.5  Monday, Jan. 7  Spatial information in chemical signals: the interaction between odor source and hydrodynamics. LAHMAN, SE*; MOORE, PA; Bowling Green State Univ.; Bowling Green State Univ. slahman@bgsu.edu

Within an aquatic ecosystem, many organisms rely on chemical signals in order to perform a range of ecological decisions. Understanding the role of chemical signals in the ecology of aquatic organisms requires a thorough understanding of the spatial and temporal distribution of sensory stimuli. For chemoreception, chemical signal dispersion is intimately tied to fluid mechanics. Alterations in the hydrodynamics of a habitat or in the way that chemical signals are introduced to habitats can have profound effects on sensory information which can subsequently alter the behavior or ecology of organisms using chemical signals. As organisms have a defined threshold for the induction of chemically driven behaviors, variations in the information received will elicit alternate behavioral responses. This study examines the influence of point versus non-point introduction of chemical signals into a simulated flowing freshwater habitat. The fine scale spatio-temporal distribution of chemical signals was measured in situ using an electrochemical detector. Molecule concentration at varying distance and height from the source was quantified using the chemical tracer dopamine coupled with an electrochemical detection system (Epsilon, Bioanalytical Systems). The fine-scale distribution of chemical signals from point and non-point sources showed significant differences in the types of information that are available to organisms. This quantification of chemical signal dispersion patterns and the types of information that are available allows a greater understanding of chemoreception. Based on these results, organisms should be able adjust their search strategy to differences in information received.