Meeting Abstract

3.10  Jan. 4  Variation in mantis shrimp visual and chemical signaling under different light conditions CHEROSKE, A.G.*; CRONIN, T.W.; CALDWELL, R.L.; Mesa Community College; Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore County; Univ. of California, Berkeley cheroske@mail.mc.maricopa.edu

Many organisms perform behavioral displays that involve visual communication (often with color) during courting. While visual cues often are used at longer distances, chemical signals are very effective at closer ranges. Stomatopods (mantis shrimp) are some of the most aggressive predators found mainly in coral reef habitats. They use a variety of visual displays during mating and aggressive interactions and have a complex color vision system capable off discriminating color signals. Mantis shrimp also are known to use chemical odors that can affect behaviors. As with many marine organisms, stomatopods occur over a range of depths where light spectrum and intensity changes may obscure color signals. Under restricted light conditions, visual signals without color such as posture and movement, or chemical signals may be a more efficient mode of communication. In these lab experiments, we investigated if stomatopods vary their use of different signal types in response to changes in light conditions and different chemical cues. Animals in aquaria were presented with an isolated intruder under full-spectrum and narrow-spectrum blue light. Test animals also were presented with odors from food items, another individual or seawater under both lighting conditions. Reactions recorded were total number of responses, type of response and time to first response. Findings suggest that stomatopods use a variety of signals during interactions and can adaptively vary their use dependent on photic conditions. These inducible, plastic behavioral responses can potentially maximize signal transfer in different light environments.