Behavioural studies on chemoreception inBalanus hameri

Abstract

Solutions of amino‐acids and some related compounds were found to release feeding behaviour in Balanus hameri. The lowest threshold was to 1‐glutamic acid (2.3 × 10⁻⁵ M) followed by glycine (4.5 × 10⁻⁴ M). The experiments suggest that the animals can distinguish the isomers of glutamic acid. Strong feeding responses were also obtained from the tripeptide, reduced glutathione (5 × 10⁻⁴ M). Solutions of glycollic acid, an extracellular product of some algae, were only weakly stimulatory. Acidic and alkaline solutions in the ranges pH 1–3.5 and 9.5–13 also evoked apparent feeding responses, but the pH of the solution had no observable effects in the range of 5–9.5.