Chemosensory Response of American Lobsters (Homarus americanus) in the Presence of Copper and Phosphamidon

Abstract

In test runways the chemosensory response of American lobsters (Homarus americanus) to herring muscle extract, applied for about 3 min, is reduced by the simultaneous presentation of copper at concentrations estimated to be 4–80 times the lethal threshold. The reduction results from avoidance of copper. Simultaneous presentation of the extract and of phosphamidon at concentrations about 2.5–100 times the lethal threshold has no effect.Exposure up to 48 h to copper at concentrations of 0.7–1.8 times the lethal threshold causes a gradual decline in chemosensory response of lobsters, followed by gradual recovery in clean water. Exposure up to 48 h to phosphamidon at concentrations of 0.7–1.8 times the lethal threshold has no effect on the response.