Meeting Abstract
Animals must gather information from their environment to make efficient decisions that maximize fitness and minimize injury and energy use. These decisions (i.e. assessment strategies) are especially important in the context of fighting behavior. The assessment strategy used by a particular species is dependent upon the neural complexity of the organism as well as surrounding environmental factors. One such factor is the ability of opponents to communicate effectively through various cues or signals. Sensory pollution can degrade or negate any attempt at communication with conspecifics which can increase fight times due to the inability to accurately assess oneself or an opponent. Consequently, longer contests equate to greater energy expenditure and an increased chance of being consumed by a predator. This study examined whether alterations in chemical communication affected the assessment strategy used by crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) in one-on-one contests. Female crayfish were randomly assigned to a contest in one of three treatments: both opponents able to communicate, one opponent unable to communicate, or both opponents unable to communicate. Communication was blocked by applying Devcon ® 5 minute epoxy gel to the crayfish’s nephropores, their primary mode of chemical communication. Trials were scored to determine fight dynamics as well as the type of assessment strategy used in each treatment. Results indicate that the blocking of chemical communication appears to alter decision making in crayfish contests.
