Structure, function and context : the impact of morphometry and ecology on olfactory sensitivity

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Biology; and, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), 2005.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Hammock, Jennifer, 1974-
Other Authors: Darlene R. Ketten.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/58687
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author Hammock, Jennifer, 1974-
author2 Darlene R. Ketten.
author_facet Darlene R. Ketten.
Hammock, Jennifer, 1974-
author_sort Hammock, Jennifer, 1974-
collection MIT
description Thesis (Ph. D.)--Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Biology; and, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), 2005.
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spelling mit-1721.1/586872019-04-13T00:08:18Z Structure, function and context : the impact of morphometry and ecology on olfactory sensitivity Impact of morphometry and ecology on olfactory sensitivity Hammock, Jennifer, 1974- Darlene R. Ketten. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Biology. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering. Biology. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Thesis (Ph. D.)--Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Biology; and, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), 2005. Handwritten on CDROMS: v. [1]. Appendix, histological images -- v. [2]. CT images. -- Table of contents refers to CDROMS as: Appendix and CT and histological images for all species, attached CD) Includes bibliographical references (v. 2, leaves 216-247). In this thesis, the relationships of olfactory sensitivity to three biological variables were tested. The sensitivity of a marine mammal, the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) was measured in order to determine whether a marine lifestyle results in impaired olfaction. The effect of dietary relevance on sensitivity to specific odorants was evaluated. Finally, a new morphometric model of olfactory uptake efficiency was developed and tested against behavioral measurements of olfactory sensitivity in twelve mammalian species from five orders. Olfactory thresholds were obtained for the first time from two sea otters for seven odorant compounds from various natural sources. Otters were trained using operant conditioning to participate in direct behavioral testing. Sea otter olfactory sensitivity was comparable to that of previously studied terrestrial mammals. The incidence of an odorant in the diet of the olfactor was found to influence specific sensitivity to that compound but to varying degrees among different mammalian orders. Nasal cavity specimens were measured using radiologic (CT scan) and histologic (light microscopy) techniques. Surface areas and volumes of the nasal cavity were used to calculate the Olfactory Uptake Efficiency (OUE). OUE is significantly related to olfactory bulb volume. A possible relationship was found between OUE and general olfactory sensitivity. by Jennifer Hammock. Ph.D. 2010-09-23T15:14:22Z 2010-09-23T15:14:22Z 2005 2005 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/58687 60553098 eng CDROMs contain files in the following formats: .jpg, .xls, .db and .tif. M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 2 v. (308 leaves) application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering.
Biology.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Hammock, Jennifer, 1974-
Structure, function and context : the impact of morphometry and ecology on olfactory sensitivity
title Structure, function and context : the impact of morphometry and ecology on olfactory sensitivity
title_full Structure, function and context : the impact of morphometry and ecology on olfactory sensitivity
title_fullStr Structure, function and context : the impact of morphometry and ecology on olfactory sensitivity
title_full_unstemmed Structure, function and context : the impact of morphometry and ecology on olfactory sensitivity
title_short Structure, function and context : the impact of morphometry and ecology on olfactory sensitivity
title_sort structure function and context the impact of morphometry and ecology on olfactory sensitivity
topic Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering.
Biology.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/58687
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