Behavioural, physiological and morphological adaptations of the shanny (Blennius pholis) to the intertidal habitat

1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. Laming ◽  
C. W. Funston ◽  
D. Roberts ◽  
M. J. Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
Locomotory Activity ◽  
Intertidal Habitat ◽  
Aerial Respiration ◽  
Morphological Adaptations ◽  
Transient Bradycardia ◽  
Cutaneous Respiration

Immersed shannies (Blennius pholis) showed peak locomotory activity coincident with daylight high tides. Emersion caused cessation of breathing and bradycardia though Q02 was little affected. Q02 fell, however, when the abdomen was enclosed in an impermeable sheath to block cutaneous respiration. Gulping of air into the extensively vascular oesophagus probably also acts as a means of aerial respiration. Reimmersion of fish caused a transient bradycardia followed by a tachycardia and a fall in Q02 followed subsequently by a rise. The results are discussed in relation to the behavioural, circulatory, respiratory and morphological adaptations of the shanny to the intertidal habitat.

Electrophysiological Differences in the CPG Aerial Respiratory Behavior Between Juvenile and Adult Lymnaea

2003 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 983-992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chlöe McComb ◽  
Ryanne Meems ◽  
Naweed Syed ◽  
Ken Lukowiak
Keyword(s):  
Volume Ratio ◽  
Rhythmic Activity ◽  
Membrane Resistance ◽  
Synaptic Connectivity ◽  
Aerial Respiration ◽  
Respiratory Rhythmogenesis ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Respiratory Behavior ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Cutaneous Respiration

Intact, freely moving juvenile Lymnaea perform aerial respiration significantly less often than do adults. We therefore hypothesized that RPeD1, the central pattern generator (CPG) neuron that initiates rhythmogenesis, would be less active in juveniles than adults. Using both isolated and semi-intact preparations to directly test this hypothesis, we found the opposite; juvenile RPeD1s were significantly smaller and more excitable than RPeD1s from adults. Significant age-related differences were found in the membrane resistance (greater in juveniles), time constant (smaller in juveniles), and rheobase current (lower in juveniles), all of which would tend to make juvenile cells significantly more excitable. However, there were significant age-related differences in the synaptic connectivity within the CPG and in peripheral input to the CPG, all which favor more rhythmic activity in the adult CPG. As was the case for intact Lymnaea, juvenile semi-intact preparations perform aerial respiration less often than do adults. The difference in excitability between juvenile and adult RPeD1s is therefore not sufficient to cause increased rhythmogenesis. Age-related changes in synaptic connectivity within the respiratory CPG and in peripheral modulation allow respiratory rhythmogenesis to be more easily expressed in adults which may compensate for their decreased dependence on cutaneous respiration as their surface to volume ratio changes as the grow in size.

The biology and functional morphology of the Southeast Asian mangrove bivalve, Polymesoda (Geloina) erosa (Solander, 1786) (Bivalvia: Corbiculidae)

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 482-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Morton
Keyword(s):  
Functional Morphology ◽  
Alimentary Canal ◽  
Mantle Cavity ◽  
Southeast Asian ◽  
Aerial Respiration ◽  
Morphological Adaptations ◽  
Mode Of Life ◽  
Mangrove Trees ◽  
Subterranean Water

The Southeast Asian mangrove is inhabited by a number of bivalves one of which, Polymesoda (Geloina) erosa (Solander, 1786), is widely distributed; it occurs on the landward fringe, in fetid pools of water formed at the bases of the mangrove trees. It is covered only by spring tides and at other times is inundated by rainwater draining through the mangrove from the land. G. erosa can withstand long periods of exposure, during which time it can use subterranean water contained in the burrow. Any particles present in this water are taken into the mantle cavity via the pedal gape and so into the alimentary canal. This is an extreme adaptation to a semiterrestrial mode of life. Aerial respiration is also achieved via the mantle margin.The functional morphology of G. erosa is described and related to the animal's life in the mangrove. The morphological adaptations of Geloina are also compared with those of other bivalves, particularly the Dreissenacea to which the Corbiculacea are possibly closely related.

Aquatic surface respiration, buoyancy control and the evolution of air-breathing in gobies (Gobiidae: Pisces)

1995 ◽  
Vol 198 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Gee ◽  
P Gee
Keyword(s):  
Water Surface ◽  
Buccal Cavity ◽  
Gas Bubble ◽  
Aquatic Surface Respiration ◽  
Air Breathing ◽  
Aerial Respiration ◽  
Bubble Volume ◽  
Cutaneous Respiration ◽  
Buoyancy Control

The role of a buccal gas bubble, held while performing aquatic surface respiration (ASR; ventilating the gills with surface water during hypoxia), was examined in benthic, intertidal Australian gobies (Favonigobius tamarensis, F. exquisitus, Pseudogobius olorum, Chlamydogobius sp., Mugilogobius paludis, Cryptocentroides cristatus and Arenigobius bifrenatus). Analyses of the forces of lift and weight of the head and body during ASR indicate a hydrostatic role for the bubble. During ASR, lift from the bubble was sufficient to provide neutral or positive buoyancy to the head, anchoring the mouth at the water surface. A buoyancy role was confirmed by experiments demonstrating the ability of some species to alter bubble volume, to compensate either for different body positions or for water densities (salinities). Use of the bubble for aerial respiration by Cryptocentroides, Mugilogobius, Chlamydogobius and Arenigobius was confirmed in hypoxia by the presence of blood-filled capillaries in the buccal subepithelium (mean air­blood barrier less than 30 µm) in areas of the buccal cavity that contacted the bubble. Blood-filled capillaries were rare or absent in normoxia in all species except Mugilogobius. Cutaneous respiration was inferred from the presence of blood-filled capillaries in the dermis and epidermis of emersed portions of the head in Mugilogobius, Chlamydogobius and Arenigobius. The buccal bubble has respiratory and hydrostatic roles and there is support for the hypothesis that ASR and the buoyancy regulation (air-gulping) required to perform it effectively are prerequisite steps in the evolution of air-breathing in these gobies.

Aerial respiration of nerites from thr north-east coast of Australia

1976 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 455 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Coleman
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Rate ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Respiratory Activity ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Locomotory Activity ◽  
Aerial Respiration ◽  
North East ◽  
Species Activity ◽  
Incoming Tide

Measurements were made of the aerial respiration of Nerita plicata, N. polita and N. albicilla (Molluscs : Gastropoda) collected, after various periods of emersion, from the shores of Heron and Lizard Islands, Queensland, Australia. These observations were correlated with observations of behaviour on the shore and the following pattern of locomotory and respiratory activity was discerned. At the beginning of emersion individuals are conspicuous on the surfaces of the rocks and stones amongst which they live; they crawl actively and respiration is at its highest. As the duration of emersion increases the animals become less conspicuous, retiring under stones and into rock crevices; they become quiescent and respiration is reduced. As the incoming tide reaches the zone occupied by each species activity is resumed and the respiratory rate increases, though not necessarily to the level shown at the start of emersion. Experimental results varied and indicate that respiration during ernersion is closely related to locomotory activity. Although the species studied were collected from different shore levels, all consumed oxygen at similar rates. This suggests that differences in the ability to respire aerially during emersion are not important in controlling the littoral zonation of these species.

Design of experimental food patches to measure foraging intensity for octopus: a case study with the giant Pacific octopus Enteroctopus dofleini

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Chancellor ◽  
David Scheel ◽  
Joel S Brown
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
High Tide ◽  
Intertidal Habitat ◽  
Camera System ◽  
Subtidal Habitat ◽  
Enteroctopus Dofleini ◽  
Nontarget Species

ABSTRACT In a study of the foraging behaviour of the giant Pacific octopus Enteroctopus dofleini, we designed two types of experimental food patches to measure habitat preferences and perceptions of predation risk. The first patch successfully measured giving-up densities (GUDs), confirmed by octopus prey presence and higher foraging at sites with historically greater octopus presence. However, nontarget foragers also foraged on these experimental food patches. Our second floating patch design successfully excluded nontarget species from subtidal patches, and from intertidal patches at high tide, but allowed for foraging by E. dofleini. The second design successfully measured GUDs and suggested that octopus preferred foraging in a subtidal habitat compared to an intertidal habitat. We ascribe the higher GUD in the intertidal habitat to its higher predation risk relative to the subtidal habitat. The second patch design seems well suited for E. dofleini and, in conjunction with a camera system, could be used to provide behavioural indicators of the octopus's abundance, perceptions of habitat quality and predation risk.

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