<strong>Ecology and biology of chemoreception in polychaetes</strong>

Abstract

Nervous system and sensory structure morphologies provide useful information for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships among the Polychaeta, Annelida, and Arthropoda. With the more common use of indirect immunocytochemistry and laser scanning confocal microscopy methods, the detailed information available from morphological studies has increased. Despite this wealth of information, developing an integrated understanding of the ecology, physiology, morphology, and molecular mechanisms of sensory systems in polychaetes remains a challenge. For many marine organisms, including polychaetes, chemical signals and chemoreception mediate numerous ecologically important behaviors including defense, reproduction, recruitment, and feeding, yet the mechanism of chemoreception in polychaetes has not been well described. This review summarizes research on the ecology and biology of polychaete chemoreception, particularly as it mediates reproduction, recruitment, and feeding, discusses the chemosensory structures of polychaetes, and describes recent advances in our understanding of chemoreception mechanisms in polychaetes.

Diet of Worms Emended: An Update of Polychaete Feeding Guilds

“…Substantial advances have been made since F&J in linking mechano-and chemosensory abilities of planktonic organisms (Kiørboe 2008) and benthic decapods (Weissburg & Zimmer-Faust 1993, Koehl et al 2001 with feeding biology. Understanding of sensory mechanisms that modulate feeding in polychaetes is more rudimentary, but the stimulation and depression of feeding by simple and complex chemical signals has been demonstrated in numerous taxa, including predators and deposit feeders (reviewed in Lindsay 2009). Nuchal organs serve as primary chemoreceptive organs, but other chemosensory structures also exist, including the feeding palps of spionid polychaetes, where the same chemical cues that elicit behavioral responses also activate sensory cells in the palps (Riordan & Lindsay 2002, Lindsay et al 2004.…”

Developmental studies provide new insights into the evolution of sense organs in Sabellariidae (Annelida)

“…1 . The nuchal organs, due to their ultrastructure, are considered to be chemoreceptors, but their specific function in many annelids where they have been described is yet to be assessed with physiological evidences [ 20 , 22 , 23 , 26 , 27 ]. Nevertheless, latest investigations in Platynereis dumerilii highly support such a chemosensory function [ 28 ].…”

Palp growth, regeneration, and longevity of the obligate hermit crab symbiont Dipolydora commensalis (Annelida: Spionidae)

“…Spionids also rely on chemoreception after food particle contact, using their palps to assess the nutritional quality of food particles (Lindsay et al 2008; Lindsay 2009). Such chemoreception appears to be important in the feeding and behavior of adults of D. commensalis .…”