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154622 - Development of a two&%238209;current choice flume behavioural bioassa.pdf (1.34 MB)

Development of a two-current choice flume behavioural bioassay for juvenile Panulirus ornatus response to moulting cues

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Characterising crustacean behaviour in response to conspecific chemical cues contributes to our evolving knowledge of the drivers of their social behaviour. There is particular interest in understanding the chemical and behavioural mechanisms contributing to cannibalism at ecdysis, as this behaviour substantially limits culture productivity of several commercially important crustaceans. Before investigating the role of chemoreception in cannibalism of moulting crustaceans, we must investigate its role in detecting moulting conspecifics. Here we use a two-current choice flume to observe juvenile tropical rock lobster (Panulirus ornatus) behavioural response to conspecific moulting cues and identifying attracted and avoidant behaviours correlating to moult stage and social relationship. Observed cue preferences show inter-moult juveniles are attracted to the moulting cues of lobsters to which they are socially naïve. In contrast, post-moult and inter-moult juveniles avoid the moulting cues of individuals whom they are socially familiar with. Average speed and total distance travelled by lobsters increases in response to conspecific moulting cues. This study demonstrates the suitability of a two-current choice flume for behavioural assays in P. ornatus and characterises clear behavioural patterns in juveniles exposed to conspecific moulting cues. This provides important framework for understanding the role of chemical communication in eliciting cannibalism.

Funding

Australian Research Council

Orna-Tas Pty Ltd

University of the Sunshine Coast

History

Publication title

Scientific Reports

Volume

12

Article number

21474

Number

21474

Pagination

1-11

ISSN

2045-2322

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Place of publication

United Kingdom

Rights statement

© The Author(s) 2022. Tis article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made.

Repository Status

  • Open

Socio-economic Objectives

Aquaculture rock lobster

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