Fish blood as a chemical signal for Antarctic marine invertebrates

Abstract

Chemical cues released from dead or injured organisms constitute important signals informing nearby animals about a feeding possibility. The ability to detect the signal, evaluate its meaning and locate its source can help organisms to exploit food resources eYciently, which is especially important to animals living in environments with limited food supply. Experiments were carried out to study the behavioral responses of several Antarctic benthic invertebrates to Wsh (Notothenia corriceps) blood. Necrophagous species such as sea stars Odontaster validus and Lysasterias sp., amphipod Waldeckia obesa and nemertean Parborlasia corrugatus responded to Wsh blood with changes in their behavior. The behavior common to all these species was locomotion directed towards the stimulus source. Behavioral components consistent with food consumption were observed in O. validus and P. corrugatus. The reaction of herbivorous limpets Nacella concinna to Wsh blood depended on the animal size. Large (>10 mm) limpets showed no behavioral response, whereas small ones (<10 mm) reacted to the stimulus by moving a short distance away. These results indicate that blood released from the tissues of injured or dead animals may be an important chemical signal for organisms belonging to diVerent taxa.

Effect of Prolonged Starvation of Nacella concinna, Odontaster validus, and Sterechinus neumayeri on Their Body Composition and the Enrichment of the Aquatic Environment with Nitrogen and Phosphorus

“…Total organic nitrogen (TON) accounted for 21% to 37% of TN, while total organic phosphorus (TOP) represented 35% to 42% of TP (Table 4), depending on the species. Amino acids, which play a critical role in trophic chemoreception, are particularly significant among these organic metabolites [74]. Based on Rodela [75] and Bucking et al [76], it can be inferred that even during prolonged starvation, TON and TOP excreted by zoobenthos may serve as chemical signals for marine organisms.…”

Effect of Prolonged Starvation of Nacella concinna, Odontaster validus, and Sterechinus neumayeri on Their Body Composition and the Enrichment of the Aquatic Environment with Nitrogen and Phosphorus

“…Total organic nitrogen (TON) accounted for 21% to 37% of TN, while total organic phosphorus (TOP) represented 35% to 42% of TP (Table 4), depending on the species. Amino acids, which play a critical role in trophic chemoreception, are particularly significant among these organic metabolites [74]. Based on Rodela [75] and Bucking et al [76], it can be inferred that even during prolonged starvation, TON and TOP excreted by zoobenthos may serve as chemical signals for marine organisms.…”

Changes in the body chemical composition and the excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus during long-term starvation of Antarctic fish Notothenia coriiceps and Notothenia rossii

“…The process of trophochemoreception depends crucially on organic compounds, and research in this area focuses on compounds containing nitrogen (especially amino acids) (e.g. Kidawa et al 2008). As shown by Rodela (2013), in nitrogenous waste excreted by fish the main fraction is ammonium (55%-63%), and the rest consists of organic compounds, including 6%-7% urea, 4%-6% creatine, and 3%-10% amines.…”

“…by bacteria, which results in low levels in the water, and so even small amounts may be a considerable signal/chemical impulse. A strong chemical signal is a significant piece of information about the proximity of a predator or food (Kidawa 2001(Kidawa , 2005Kidawa et al 2008).…”

Marine chemical ecology in benthic environments

“…248 The role of fish blood as a chemoattractant for benthic scavengers was tested in Antarctica. 249 The blood of the Antarctic fish Notothenia corriceps contained protein, glucose, tiacyloglycerols, and cholesterol and cholesterol high density lipoprotein. When N. corriceps blood was diluted 1 : 3 with seawater it stimulated food searching behavior, including tube foot waving, arms movement, and locomotion in the seastars Odontaster validus and Lysasterias sp.…”

Effect of Prolonged Starvation of Nacella concinna, Odontaster validus, and Sterechinus neumayeri on Their Body Composition and the Enrichment of the Aquatic Environment with Nitrogen and Phosphorus

“…Total organic nitrogen (TON) accounted for 21% to 37% of TN, while total organic phosphorus (TOP) represented 35% to 42% of TP (Table 4), depending on the species. Amino acids, which play a critical role in trophic chemoreception, are particularly significant among these organic metabolites [74]. Based on Rodela [75] and Bucking et al [76], it can be inferred that even during prolonged starvation, TON and TOP excreted by zoobenthos may serve as chemical signals for marine organisms.…”

Changes in the body chemical composition and the excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus during long-term starvation of Antarctic fish Notothenia coriiceps and Notothenia rossii

“…The process of trophochemoreception depends crucially on organic compounds, and research in this area focuses on compounds containing nitrogen (especially amino acids) (e.g. Kidawa et al 2008). As shown by Rodela (2013), in nitrogenous waste excreted by fish the main fraction is ammonium (55%-63%), and the rest consists of organic compounds, including 6%-7% urea, 4%-6% creatine, and 3%-10% amines.…”

“…by bacteria, which results in low levels in the water, and so even small amounts may be a considerable signal/chemical impulse. A strong chemical signal is a significant piece of information about the proximity of a predator or food (Kidawa 2001(Kidawa , 2005Kidawa et al 2008).…”

Marine chemical ecology in benthic environments

“…248 The role of fish blood as a chemoattractant for benthic scavengers was tested in Antarctica. 249 The blood of the Antarctic fish Notothenia corriceps contained protein, glucose, tiacyloglycerols, and cholesterol and cholesterol high density lipoprotein. When N. corriceps blood was diluted 1 : 3 with seawater it stimulated food searching behavior, including tube foot waving, arms movement, and locomotion in the seastars Odontaster validus and Lysasterias sp.…”

Effect of Prolonged Starvation of Nacella concinna, Odontaster validus, and Sterechinus neumayeri on Their Body Composition and the Enrichment of the Aquatic Environment with Nitrogen and Phosphorus

“…Total organic nitrogen (TON) accounted for 21% to 37% of TN, while total organic phosphorus (TOP) represented 35% to 42% of TP (Table 4), depending on the species. Amino acids, which play a critical role in trophic chemoreception, are particularly significant among these organic metabolites [74]. Based on Rodela [75] and Bucking et al [76], it can be inferred that even during prolonged starvation, TON and TOP excreted by zoobenthos may serve as chemical signals for marine organisms.…”

Changes in the body chemical composition and the excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus during long-term starvation of Antarctic fish Notothenia coriiceps and Notothenia rossii

“…The process of trophochemoreception depends crucially on organic compounds, and research in this area focuses on compounds containing nitrogen (especially amino acids) (e.g. Kidawa et al 2008). As shown by Rodela (2013), in nitrogenous waste excreted by fish the main fraction is ammonium (55%-63%), and the rest consists of organic compounds, including 6%-7% urea, 4%-6% creatine, and 3%-10% amines.…”

“…by bacteria, which results in low levels in the water, and so even small amounts may be a considerable signal/chemical impulse. A strong chemical signal is a significant piece of information about the proximity of a predator or food (Kidawa 2001(Kidawa , 2005Kidawa et al 2008).…”

Marine chemical ecology in benthic environments

“…248 The role of fish blood as a chemoattractant for benthic scavengers was tested in Antarctica. 249 The blood of the Antarctic fish Notothenia corriceps contained protein, glucose, tiacyloglycerols, and cholesterol and cholesterol high density lipoprotein. When N. corriceps blood was diluted 1 : 3 with seawater it stimulated food searching behavior, including tube foot waving, arms movement, and locomotion in the seastars Odontaster validus and Lysasterias sp.…”