INDUCED HOST ODOR ATTRACTION IN THE PEA CRABPINNOTHERES MACULATUS

Abstract
The pea crab P. maculatus is a host-generalist symbiotic brachyuran. When subadult posthard and adult crabs are removed from the bivalve Mytilus edulis, Mytilus host odor increases their nonspecific movement and their location of the odor source. Odors from other previously recorded host species generally do not affect their searching behavior. Such response specificity may be due to olfactory induction to their host. Adult crabs removed from the blue mussel M. edulis can be induced to respond to odor from the bay scallop Argopecten irradians concentricus by allowing these crabs to associate with live bay scallops. Such induction supports the plastic chemical search image concept. Antennules are the principal sites of chemoreceptors used in this host location.

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