Force-dependent discharge of nematocysts in the sea anemone Haliplanella luciae (Verrill)
Summary Sea anemones discharge cnidae (‘stinging capsules’ including nematocysts) to capture prey and to defend themselves. In the present study, we tested the relationship between the force of test probes striking feeding tentacles and discharge of microbasic p-mastigophore nematocysts into the tes...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Company of Biologists
2012-05-01
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| Series: | Biology Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://bio.biologists.org/content/1/6/582 |
| _version_ | 1818822638537015296 |
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| author | Dustin Todaro Glen M. Watson |
| author_facet | Dustin Todaro Glen M. Watson |
| author_sort | Dustin Todaro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary
Sea anemones discharge cnidae (‘stinging capsules’ including nematocysts) to capture prey and to defend themselves. In the present study, we tested the relationship between the force of test probes striking feeding tentacles and discharge of microbasic p-mastigophore nematocysts into the test probes. In seawater alone, the response curve is bimodal with maximal discharge observed at 0.33 and 1.10 millinewtons (mN) and with minimal discharge at 1.50 mN. Upon activating chemoreceptors for N-acetylated sugars, maximal discharge is observed across a broad range of smaller forces from 0.16 to 0.9 mN before decreasing to a minimum at 1.50 mN. Likewise, in the presence of nearby vibrations at key frequencies, maximal discharge is observed over a broad range of smaller forces before decreasing to a minimum at 1.50 mN. It appears that sensory input indicating proximity of potential prey expands the range of small forces of impact that stimulate maximal discharge (i.e. to less than 1.10 mN) but not at larger forces of impact (i.e. at approximately 1.50 mN). Thus, contact by small prey would stimulate maximal discharge, and all the more so if such contact is accompanied by specific odorants or by vibrations at specific frequencies. Nevertheless, anemones would not maximally discharge nematocysts into large animals that blunder into contact with their tentacles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T23:27:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1083a7d8fa3842a6b0423862fe893ae2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-6390 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T23:27:16Z |
| publishDate | 2012-05-01 |
| publisher | The Company of Biologists |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-1083a7d8fa3842a6b0423862fe893ae22022-12-21T20:47:45ZengThe Company of BiologistsBiology Open2046-63902012-05-011658258710.1242/bio.20126952012695Force-dependent discharge of nematocysts in the sea anemone Haliplanella luciae (Verrill)Dustin TodaroGlen M. WatsonSummary Sea anemones discharge cnidae (‘stinging capsules’ including nematocysts) to capture prey and to defend themselves. In the present study, we tested the relationship between the force of test probes striking feeding tentacles and discharge of microbasic p-mastigophore nematocysts into the test probes. In seawater alone, the response curve is bimodal with maximal discharge observed at 0.33 and 1.10 millinewtons (mN) and with minimal discharge at 1.50 mN. Upon activating chemoreceptors for N-acetylated sugars, maximal discharge is observed across a broad range of smaller forces from 0.16 to 0.9 mN before decreasing to a minimum at 1.50 mN. Likewise, in the presence of nearby vibrations at key frequencies, maximal discharge is observed over a broad range of smaller forces before decreasing to a minimum at 1.50 mN. It appears that sensory input indicating proximity of potential prey expands the range of small forces of impact that stimulate maximal discharge (i.e. to less than 1.10 mN) but not at larger forces of impact (i.e. at approximately 1.50 mN). Thus, contact by small prey would stimulate maximal discharge, and all the more so if such contact is accompanied by specific odorants or by vibrations at specific frequencies. Nevertheless, anemones would not maximally discharge nematocysts into large animals that blunder into contact with their tentacles.http://bio.biologists.org/content/1/6/582Contact-sensitive mechanoreceptorCnidariaAnthozoa |
| spellingShingle | Dustin Todaro Glen M. Watson Force-dependent discharge of nematocysts in the sea anemone Haliplanella luciae (Verrill) Biology Open Contact-sensitive mechanoreceptor Cnidaria Anthozoa |
| title | Force-dependent discharge of nematocysts in the sea anemone Haliplanella luciae (Verrill) |
| title_full | Force-dependent discharge of nematocysts in the sea anemone Haliplanella luciae (Verrill) |
| title_fullStr | Force-dependent discharge of nematocysts in the sea anemone Haliplanella luciae (Verrill) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Force-dependent discharge of nematocysts in the sea anemone Haliplanella luciae (Verrill) |
| title_short | Force-dependent discharge of nematocysts in the sea anemone Haliplanella luciae (Verrill) |
| title_sort | force dependent discharge of nematocysts in the sea anemone haliplanella luciae verrill |
| topic | Contact-sensitive mechanoreceptor Cnidaria Anthozoa |
| url | http://bio.biologists.org/content/1/6/582 |
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