- Fisheries, Pollution And Algology
- Published:
Large molecules and chemical control of feeding behavior in the starfishAsterias forbesi
Makromoleküle und chemische Kontrolle des Freßverhaltens bei dem SeesternAsterias forbesi
Helgoländer wissenschaftliche Meeresuntersuchungen volume 24, pages 425–435 (1973)
Kurzfassung
Asterias forbesi reagiert auf gewisse chemische Reizstoffe in einer Weise, die stark an das normale Freßverhalten erinnert; insbesondere kann die sogenannte „Humping“-Reaktion als Grundlage für eine quantitative Auswertung des Reizstoffgehaltes geeigneter Gewebsextrakte benutzt werden. Es wird nachgewiesen, daß Extrakte der MuschelnCrassostrea virginica undMercenaria mercenaria diesen Reflex auslösen können und daß die aktiven Bestandteile zum großen Teil in den Fraktionen konzentriert sind, die Moleküle relativ hohen Molekulargewichtes enthalten. Die Aktivität ist hitzebeständig, fällt unter Einwirkung von (NH4)2SO4 oder kalter Azetonextraktion aus und wandert bei der elektrophoretischen Trennung auf Zelluloseazetat in Barbitalpuffer (pH 8,5) zum positiven Pol. Durch Ultrafiltration wird die Aktivität auf mehrere Fraktionen verteilt, deren Molekulargewichte von mindestens 10 000 bis 100 000 reichen. Vergleiche von Muschel- mit Austernpräparaten zeigen in jedem Fall höhere Aktivitätswerte in Muschelfraktionen als in entsprechenden Austernfraktionen. Die bisher höchsten Werte für die spezifische Aktivität wurden in der hochmolekularen Fraktion von Muschelextrakten gefunden. Die Wirkungsdosis dieses Materials, bei der 50 % der Versuchstiere die „Humping“-Reaktion zeigen, entspricht 0,34×10−6 mg Protein. Neben der „Humping“-Reaktion lösen hochmolekulare Fraktionen von Molluskenextrakten eine Reihe anderer Verhaltensweisen bei Asteroiden aus einschließlich einer Suchreaktion, in deren Verlauf Seesterne sich mehr oder weniger schnell in der Richtung bewegen, in welcher sich die höchste Konzentration des Extrakts befindet. Sowohl im Aquarium wie unter natürlichen Lebensbedingungen im Meer sind auf diese Weise Fortbewegungsgeschwindigkeiten bis zu 8 cm/m beobachtet worden.
Summary
1. An echinoderm, the starfishAsterias forbesi, is described as possessing a chemically mediated behavioral response which is suitable for use as a bioassay in studies on chemoreception.
2. UsingA. forbesi for bioassays, it was discovered that protein extracts from the clamMercenaria mercenaria and the oysterCrassostrea virginica chemically induced the humping reflex in this animal.
3. In every case, the protein extracts from clam were more active (lower ED50) than any from oyster. The highest molecular weight-range fraction from clam (100 000 and up) was the most active and had an ED50 of 0.34×10−6 mg protein/ml seawater in the test solution.
4. In laboratory and field tests, the higher molecular weight fractions obtained from ultrafiltration techniques exhibited a pronounced activity as a search-inducing stimulant. The starfish were induced to search at speeds of up to 8 cm/min.
Literature cited
Baldwin, E., 1959. Dynamic aspects of biochemistry. Univ. Press, Cambridge.
Balke, E. &Steiner, G., 1959. Über die chemische Nahrungswahl vonPelmatohydra oligactis Pallas. Naturwissenschaften46, 22.
Birkeland, C., Chia, F. &Strathmann, R. R., 1971. Development, substratum selection, delay of metamorphosis and growth in the seastarMediaster aequalis Stimpson. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole141, 99–108.
Blake, J. W., 1960. Oxygen consumpton of bivalve prey and their attractiveness to the gastropodUrosalpinx cinerea. Limnol. Oceanogr.5, 273–280.
Brauer, R. W., Jordan, M. R. &Barnes, D. J., 1970. Triggering of the stomach eversion reflex ofAcanthaster planci by coral extracts. Nature, Lond.228, 344–346.
Brown, A. C., 1961. Chemoreception in the sandy-beach snailBullia. S. Afr. J. Lab. clin. Med.7, 160.
Bullock, T. H., 1953. Predator recognition and escape responses of some intertidal gastropods in presence of starfish. Behaviour5, 130.
Carr, W. E. S., 1967a. Chemoreception in the mud snail,Nassarius obsoletus. I. Properties of the stimulatory substances extracted from shrimp. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole133, 90–105.
—— 1967b. Chemoreception in the mud snailNassarius obsoletus. II. Identification of stimulatory substances. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole133, 106–127.
Coe, W. R., 1953. Influences of association, isolation and nutrition on the sexuality of snails of the genusCrepidula. J. exp. Zool.122, 5.
Copeland, M., 1918. The olfactory reactions and organs of the marine snailsAlectrion obsoleta (Say) andBusycon canaliculatum (Lim). J. exp. Zool.25, 177.
Forrest, H., 1962. Lack of dependence of the feeding reaction inHydra on reduced glutathione. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole122, 343–361.
Frings, H. &Frings, C., 1965. Chemosensory bases of food finding and feeding inAlplysia juliana (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia). Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole128, 211–217.
Fulton, C., 1963. Proline control of the feeding reaction ofCordylophora. J. gen. Physiol.46, 823–837.
Gurin, S. &Carr, W. E. S., 1971. Chemoreception inNassarius obsoletus: The role of specific stimulatory proteins. Science, N. Y.174, 293.
Jahn, T. L. &Wulff, V. J., 1950. Chemoreception. In: Comparative animal physiology. Ed. byC. L. Prosser. Saunders, Philadelphia, 447–470.
Kohn, A. J., 1961. Chemoreception in gastropod mollusks. Am. Zool.1, 219–308.
Leverack, M. S., 1963. Aspects of chemoreception in Crustacea. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.8, 141–151.
Lenhoff, H. M., 1960. The glutathione feeding response. Carol. Tips23, 26.
—— 1968. Behavior, hormones andHydra. Science, N. Y.161, 435–442.
—— &Bovaird, J., 1959. Requirement of bound calcium for the action of surface chemoreceptors. Science, N. Y.130, 1474–1476.
—— —— 1960. Enzymatic activation of a hormone-like response inHydra by proteases. Nature, Lond.187, 671–673.
—— &Schneiderman, H. A., 1959. The chemical control of feeding in the Portuguese man-of-warPhysalia physalis L. and its bearing on the evolution of the Cnidaria. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole116, 452–460.
Lindstedt, K. J., 1971. Chemical control of feeding behavior. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. (A)39, 553–581.
Loomis, W. F., 1955a. Glutathione control of the specific feeding reactions ofHydra. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci.62, 209–228.
—— 1955b. Specific qualitative microbioassay for reduced glutathione. Fedn Proc. Fedn Am. Socs exp. Biol.14, 247.
Mangum, C. P. &Cox, C. D., 1966. A feeding response to chemical stimuli in the onuphid polychaeteDiopatra cuprea. Am. Zool.6, 546–547.
—— —— 1971. Analysis of the feeding response in the onuphid polychaeteDiopatra cuprea (Bosc). Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole140, 215–229.
New insight into senses of taste and smell, 1972. Chem. Engng News50, 41.
Nicol, J. A. C., 1960. The biology of marine animals. Pitman, London, 707 pp.
Ramsay, J. A., 1952. A physiological approach to the lower animals. Univ. Press, Cambridge, 148 pp.
Rushforth, N. B. &Hofman, F., 1972. Behavioral and electrophysiological studies ofHydra: III. Components of feeding behavior. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole142, 110–131.
Scheltema, R. S., 1961. Metamorphosis of the veliger larvae ofNassarius obsoletus (Gastropoda) in response to bottom sediment. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole120, 92–109.
Synder, N. F. R. &Synder, H. A., 1971. Pheromone-mediated behavior ofFasciolaria tulipa. Anim. Behav.19, 257–268.
Wagner, G., 1905. Movements and reactions ofHydra. Jb. micros. Sci48, 585–622.
Whittle, K. H. &Blumer, M., 1970. Interactions between organisms and dissolved organic substances in the sea. Chemical attraction of the starfishAsterias vulgaris to oysters. In: Symposium on organic matter in natural waters. Ed. byD. W. Hood. Univ. of Alaska, College, Alaska, 495–507.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Heeb, M.A. Large molecules and chemical control of feeding behavior in the starfishAsterias forbesi . Helgolander Wiss. Meeresunters 24, 425–435 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01609531
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01609531