Neuroecology of Ink Defenses

墨水防御的神经生态学

• 批准号: 1036742
• 负责人: Charles Derby
• 金额: $ 33.22万
• 依托单位: Georgia State University Research Foundation, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-09-01 至 2015-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1036742&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Neuroecology; Ink; Defenses

Charles Derby IOS-1036742Neuroecology of Ink DefensesThe objective of this project is to understand the function, evolution, and neural mechanisms of chemical defenses used during predator-prey interactions. The project focuses on inking animals, using as experimental models sea hares and squid as inking prey, and fish and crustaceans as their predators. Experimental techniques used in this project include behavior, electrophysiology, analytical chemistry, and molecular biology. Inking animals use their ink as a visual smoke screen, mimic, or distractor, aiding them in escaping predators. But inking animals also use ink as a chemical defense, via diverse mechanisms. The first objective is to identify cellular mechanisms of chemical deterrence, by examining how chemical defenses of inking animals (sea hares, squid) affect the chemosensory systems of predatory fish (sea catfish) and crustaceans (spiny lobsters, blue crabs). The second objective is to examine how ink chemical defenses have evolved, by determining if the molecules in ink that act as chemical defenses have other functions such as serving as alarm cues or sun screens that predate their defensive function. The investigators expect to find a diversity of mechanisms of action, including some chemicals that activate specific deterrent receptor cells that evoke neural pathways evoking rejection, and other chemicals that inhibit food receptor cells and thus turn off pathways that evoke food search and acceptance. This work will contribute to the understanding of the predator-prey relationships, by showing how animals use limited resources to defend themselves against a variety of predators with diverse sensory capabilities and attack strategies. This work will also contribute to the understanding of principles of organization of chemosensory systems. The project also has broader impacts, including: promoting training of students, especially underrepresented groups, in the practice scientific inquiry and creative thinking and writing; providing outreach and public dissemination of information; and commercializing antimicrobial technologies.

查尔斯·德比 IOS-1036742墨水防御的神经生态学本项目的目的是了解捕食者-猎物相互作用过程中使用的化学防御的功能，进化和神经机制。该项目的重点是给动物涂上墨水，以海兔和鱿鱼为实验模型，以鱼类和甲壳类动物为捕食者。该项目中使用的实验技术包括行为、电生理学、分析化学和分子生物学。墨动物使用他们的墨水作为视觉烟幕，模仿，或分心，帮助他们逃避捕食者。但是，墨水动物也通过不同的机制将墨水用作化学防御。第一个目标是确定化学威慑的细胞机制，通过研究化学防御的墨水动物（海兔，鱿鱼）如何影响掠食性鱼类（海鲶鱼）和甲壳类动物（多刺龙虾，蓝蟹）的化学感觉系统。第二个目标是通过确定墨水中作为化学防御的分子是否具有其他功能，例如作为警报提示或防晒霜，来研究墨水化学防御是如何进化的。研究人员希望找到多种作用机制，包括一些激活特定威慑受体细胞的化学物质，这些细胞引起引起排斥的神经通路，以及其他抑制食物受体细胞的化学物质，从而关闭引起食物搜索和接受的通路。 这项工作将有助于理解捕食者与猎物的关系，通过展示动物如何利用有限的资源来保护自己免受具有不同感官能力和攻击策略的各种捕食者的攻击。这项工作也将有助于化学感受系统的组织原则的理解。该项目还具有更广泛的影响，包括：促进对学生，特别是代表性不足的群体进行科学探究和创造性思维及写作实践方面的培训;提供外联和公开传播信息;以及使抗菌技术商业化。