Presentation Title: The influence of vision and chemosensation on predatory behavior in Octopus bimaculoides

Section: Poster Session Group 1 1

Location: McCardell Bicentennial Hall, Great Hall

Date & Time: Friday, April 19, 2013 - 10:30am - 11:15am

Abstract:

I investigated how vision and chemosensation interact to guide predatory behavior in the octopus (Octopus bimaculoides). Previous studies have described the visual system of Octopus species, including the processing of polarized light by the octopus eye and the functionality of the optic lobes (Dilly et al., 1963; Talbot et al., 2011). Although chemosensation in octopuses has been less thoroughly investigated, recent studies have shown that O. bimaculoides demonstrate a positive chemotaxic response to chemicals released by certain prey (Fry, 2011). In the present study, adult octopuses were presented with a stoppered glass jar containing live prey, an empty glass jar coated with a chemical stimulus (herring oil), or a glass jar that contained a crab and was coated with the chemical stimulus. In each trial, latency to approach and attempts to open the jar was recorded. Studying the behavioral implications of visual, chemosensory, and motor systems integration provides important information about the sensory systems of invertebrates. 

Type of Presentation: Individual poster

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Presenter Information
Presenter(s): Callahan, Dana Goodwin
Major(s): Neuroscience
Class Year(s): 2013

Sponsor(s): Root, Tom
Dept(s): Neuroscience

Moderator: ,