CHEMORECEPTION IN THE BLUE CRAB,CALLINECTES SAPIDUS

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Abstract
The sensitivity of the blue crab C. sapidus to sapid substances was measured, and the influence of food deprivation on chemosensitivity examined. Observation of normal feeding behavior produced behavioral criteria used to determine the threshold concentration at which crabs detect sea water solutions of a freeze-dried clam extract. An increase in the rate of antennule flicking and gill bailing upon presentation of clam extract solutions indicated detection of sapid chemicals by the crab. Feeding behaviors began with probing of the substrate with the chelae. The threshold concentration at which 50% of the crabs detected the sapid solution was 10-15 g/l. Feeding behaviors were released at higher concentrations, 10-1 to 10-2 g/l. Food deprivation for 6 days lowered the threshold for feeding behaviors but did not affect the detection threshold. Since the threshold for detection is lower than that for feeding, behaviors indicating detection, i.e. antennule flicking and gill bailing, are more sensitive response criteria than the feeding behaviors generally used.

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