Perception of airborne odors by loggerhead sea turtles
Perception of airborne odors by loggerhead sea turtles
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DOI：
10.1242/jeb.033068
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发表时间：
2009-12-01
影响因子：
2.8
通讯作者：
Lohmann, K. J.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Endres, C. S.;Putman, N. F.;Lohmann, K. J.
众所周知，海龟能探测到化学线索，但与大多数海洋动物不同，海龟浮出水面呼吸，因此有可能获得空气和水中的嗅觉线索。为了确定海龟是否可以检测到空气中的化学线索，圈养的红海龟（Caretta caretta）被放置在一个圆形的，充满水的竞技场中，气味可以被引入到水面以上的空气中。空气通过装有食物的杯子表面会引起活动增加，潜水和其他通常与进食有关的行为。相比之下，空气通过装有蒸馏水的相同杯子的表面没有引起任何反应。在食物气味试验中，活性的增加只发生在海龟浮出水面呼吸后，并在呼吸后的第一分钟达到峰值，这意味着当海龟在水下时，引起反应的化学线索不太可能被检测到。这些结果提供了第一个直接证据，表明海龟可以检测空气中的气味。在自然条件下，这种感觉能力可能在觅食，导航或两者兼而有之。
Sea turtles are known to detect chemical cues, but in contrast to most marine animals, turtles surface to breathe and thus potentially have access to olfactory cues both in air and in water. To determine whether sea turtles can detect airborne chemical cues, captive loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) were placed into a circular, water-filled arena in which odorants could be introduced to the air above the water surface. Air that had passed across the surface of a cup containing food elicited increased activity, diving and other behavior normally associated with feeding. By contrast, air that had passed across the surface of an identical cup containing distilled water elicited no response. Increases in activity during food odor trials occurred only after turtles surfaced to breathe and peaked in the first post-breath minute, implying that the chemical cues eliciting the responses were unlikely to have been detected while the turtles were under water. These results provide the first direct evidence that sea turtles can detect airborne odors. Under natural conditions, this sensory ability might function in foraging, navigation or both.