Neuroecology of Ink Defenses

墨水防御的神经生态学这个项目的目的是了解在捕食者-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。该项目以水墨动物为研究对象，以海兔和乌贼为水墨猎物，鱼类和甲壳类为水墨捕食者作为实验模型。在这个项目中使用的实验技术包括行为学、电生理学、分析化学和分子生物学。墨汁动物将墨汁用作视觉烟幕、模仿者或分心物，帮助它们逃脱捕食者。但墨汁动物也通过不同的机制将墨汁作为化学防御。第一个目标是通过检查墨迹动物（海兔、鱿鱼）的化学防御如何影响食肉鱼类（海鲶鱼）和甲壳类动物（多刺龙虾、蓝蟹）的化学感觉系统，来确定化学威慑的细胞机制。第二个目标是研究墨水的化学防御是如何进化的，通过确定墨水中充当化学防御的分子是否具有其他功能，例如在其防御功能之前充当警报提示或防晒霜。研究人员希望找到多种作用机制，包括一些化学物质可以激活特定的威慑受体细胞，从而引发神经通路，引发排斥反应，还有一些化学物质可以抑制食物受体细胞，从而关闭唤起食物寻找和接受的通路。这项工作将有助于理解捕食者-猎物关系，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侵害。这项工作也将有助于理解化学感觉系统的组织原理。该项目还具有更广泛的影响，包括：促进学生，特别是代表性不足的群体，在实践科学探究和创造性思维和写作方面的培训；提供外联和向公众传播信息；以及抗菌技术的商业化。

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.