Adsorbed layers: the stimulus to settlement in barnacles

Author:

Abstract

The factor responsible for inducing settlement in cyprids ofBalanus balanoides(L.) can be fractionated by ammonium sulphate, and gives positive reactions to a series of tests identifying it with arthropodin, the water soluble protein fraction of arthropod cuticle. Solutions of the settling factor have little effect on the behaviour of cyprids exploring a surface, and do not promote settlement. Slate surfaces previously soaked in a dilute seawater extract of the settling factor can be distinguished by cyprids from freshly cleaned slates, even when cyprids and both surfaces are freshly immersed in the same extract that was previously used to soak the first set of slates. It is argued from this that the cyprids must respond to a specific molecular configuration manifested by the protein only when physically or chemically bound to a surface. Since in nature cyprids respond to a surface consisting of protein tanned by the natural polyphenols of the epicuticle (sclerotin), we consider that in our laboratory experiments with adsorbed layers of soluble arthropodin they respond to the same molecular configuration at the surface. Such recognition of specific molecular groupings of an insoluble material involves a truly contact chemical sense, which we have called a ‘tactile chemical sense’. This facility may exist in other animals. The settlement behaviour of barnacle cyprids is analyzed in terms of instinctive behaviour.

Publisher

The Royal Society

Subject

General Medicine

Reference50 articles.

1. The nature and function of displacement activities;Armstrong E. A.;Exp. Biol.,1950

2. Baker J. R. 1958 Principles of biological microtechnique p. 113. London: Methuen and Co. Ltd.

3. Carthy J. D. 1958 A n introduction to the behaviour of invertebrates. London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd.

4. Colowick S. P. & Kaplan N. O. 1957 Methods in enzymology vol. 3 p. 454. New York: Academic Press.

5. The effectiveness of certain paraffin derivatives in attracting flies. J.A gric;Cook W. C.;Res.,1936

Cited by 215 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3