Chemical signals in the marine environment: dispersal, detection, and temporal signal analysis - PubMed (original) (raw)
Review
Chemical signals in the marine environment: dispersal, detection, and temporal signal analysis
J Atema. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1995.
Abstract
Chemical signals connect most of life's processes, including interorganismal relationships. Detection of chemical signals involves not only recognition of a spectrum of unique compounds or mixtures of compounds but also their spatial and temporal distribution. Both spectral and temporal signal processing determine what is a signal and what is background noise. Each animal extracts its unique information from the chemical world and uniquely contributes to it. Lobsters have provided important information on temporal signal processing. Marine chemical signals can be measured with high spatio-temporal resolution giving us a novel view of the lobster's environment. Lobster chemoreceptor cells have flicker fusion frequencies of 4 Hz and can integrate stimuli over 200 ms, closely corresponding to odor sampling behavior with 4-Hz "sniffs." Using this information, spatial odor gradients can be determined from temporal analysis of odor patches typical of turbulent dispersal. Lobsters appear to use this information to locate odor sources. Lobster social behavior depends greatly on chemical signals. Urine carries important information for courtship, dominance, and individual recognition. A novel gland in the nephropore is strategically located to release its products into the urine. Urine, in turn, is injected into the gill current, which jets water 1-2 m ahead of the animal. Lobsters control three different currents that carry chemical signals to and from them. The study of odor dynamics has only just begun. It will be exciting to see how signal dispersal, receptor temporal tuning, neural processing, and animal behavior interact to enhance signals for communication and detection and to reduce signals for chemical camouflage.
Similar articles
- Using lobster noses to inspire robot sensor design.
Mead KS. Mead KS. Trends Biotechnol. 2002 Jul;20(7):276-7. doi: 10.1016/s0167-7799(02)01979-0. Trends Biotechnol. 2002. PMID: 12062964 - Engineering Aspects of Olfaction.
Persaud KC. Persaud KC. In: Persaud KC, Marco S, Gutiérrez-Gálvez A, editors. Neuromorphic Olfaction. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2013. Chapter 1. In: Persaud KC, Marco S, Gutiérrez-Gálvez A, editors. Neuromorphic Olfaction. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2013. Chapter 1. PMID: 26042329 Free Books & Documents. Review. - Generalization among related complex odorant mixtures and their components: analysis of olfactory perception in the spiny lobster.
Derby CD, Hutson M, Livermore BA, Lynn WH. Derby CD, et al. Physiol Behav. 1996 Jul;60(1):87-95. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(95)02237-6. Physiol Behav. 1996. PMID: 8804647 - Dual antennular chemosensory pathways mediate odor-associative learning and odor discrimination in the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus.
Steullet P, Krützfeldt DR, Hamidani G, Flavus T, Ngo V, Derby CD. Steullet P, et al. J Exp Biol. 2002 Mar;205(Pt 6):851-67. doi: 10.1242/jeb.205.6.851. J Exp Biol. 2002. PMID: 11914393 - Sensing odorants and pheromones with chemosensory receptors.
Touhara K, Vosshall LB. Touhara K, et al. Annu Rev Physiol. 2009;71:307-32. doi: 10.1146/annurev.physiol.010908.163209. Annu Rev Physiol. 2009. PMID: 19575682 Review.
Cited by
- Multiple modes of phase locking between sniffing and whisking during active exploration.
Ranade S, Hangya B, Kepecs A. Ranade S, et al. J Neurosci. 2013 May 8;33(19):8250-6. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3874-12.2013. J Neurosci. 2013. PMID: 23658164 Free PMC article. - White sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) scavenging on whales and its potential role in further shaping the ecology of an apex predator.
Fallows C, Gallagher AJ, Hammerschlag N. Fallows C, et al. PLoS One. 2013 Apr 9;8(4):e60797. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060797. Print 2013. PLoS One. 2013. PMID: 23585850 Free PMC article. - Micro-scale fluid and odorant transport to antennules of the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii.
Pravin S, Mellon D Jr, Reidenbach MA. Pravin S, et al. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2012 Sep;198(9):669-81. doi: 10.1007/s00359-012-0738-x. Epub 2012 Jun 5. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2012. PMID: 22669432 - Pyridinoacridine alkaloids of marine origin: NMR and MS spectral data, synthesis, biosynthesis and biological activity.
Sandjo LP, Kuete V, Biavatti MW. Sandjo LP, et al. Beilstein J Org Chem. 2015 Sep 18;11:1667-99. doi: 10.3762/bjoc.11.183. eCollection 2015. Beilstein J Org Chem. 2015. PMID: 26664587 Free PMC article. Review.
References
- J Comp Physiol A. 1992 Nov;171(4):505-12 - PubMed
- Recent Prog Horm Res. 1963;19:673-716 - PubMed
- Symp Soc Exp Biol. 1985;39:387-423 - PubMed
- Nature. 1971 Jul 23;232(5308):261-3 - PubMed
- J Theor Biol. 1968 Feb;18(2):157-70 - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources