Lobster attack induces sensitization in the sea hare, Aplysia californica.

Brief Communications Lobster Attack Induces Sensitization in the Sea Hare, Aplysia californica

Studies of the neural mechanisms of learning, especially of sensitization, have benefitted from extensive research on the model species, Aplysia californica (hereafter Aplysia). Considering this volume of literature on mechanisms, it is surprising that our understanding of the ecological context of sensitization in Aplysia is completely lacking. Indeed, the widespread use of strong electric sho...

Connecting model species to nature: predator-induced long-term sensitization in Aplysia californica.

Previous research on sensitization in Aplysia was based entirely on unnatural noxious stimuli, usually electric shock, until our laboratory found that a natural noxious stimulus, a single sublethal lobster attack, causes short-term sensitization. We here extend that finding by demonstrating that multiple lobster attacks induce long-term sensitization (≥24 h) as well as similar, although not ide...

Molecular identification of alarm cues in the defensive secretions of the sea hare Aplysia californica

Prey species possess numerous strategies to reduce predation. One tactic is to respond with antipredator behaviours when conspecific alarm cues are detected. The sea hare Aplysia californica defends itself from predators in many ways, one of which is releasing ink and opaline upon attack. Previous work showed that a mixture of ink and opaline from A. californica causes conspecifics to respond w...

Aplysiasecosterols B and C: two new 9,11-secosteroids with a cis-fused 1,4-quinone structure from the sea hare Aplysia kurodai

Effects of CO2 driven ocean acidification on sea hare (Aplysia dactylomela) larval development