info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Hard-shell mating in Neohelice granulata: the role of ecdysone in female receptivity and mate attraction
Fecha
2017-03-01Registro en:
Sal Moyano, María Paz; Luppi, Tomas Atilio; Medesani, Daniel Alberto; McLay, Colin L.; Rodriguez, Enrique Marcelo; Hard-shell mating in Neohelice granulata: the role of ecdysone in female receptivity and mate attraction; Springer; Journal Of Comparative Physiology A-sensory Neural And Behavioral Physiology; 203; 3; 1-3-2017; 233-243
0340-7594
1432-1351
CONICET Digital
CONICET
Autor
Sal Moyano, María Paz
Luppi, Tomas Atilio
Medesani, Daniel Alberto
McLay, Colin L.
Rodriguez, Enrique Marcelo
Resumen
Most brachyuran females become receptive during the intermolt period, a condition considered “derived”. However, as far as we know, studies testing the existence and function of pheromones in decapods are based on species which have mating linked to molting, a condition considered as “ancestral”. For the first time, we studied some physiological and morphological processes involved in Neohelice granulata intermolt female crabs becoming receptive and potentially attracting males. We found that receptive females have mobile vulvae opercula due to a softening process of the cuticle hinge which showed lower calcium levels compared to the hinge of unreceptive females. Local softening of the hinge was stimulated by a low concentration of ecdysone during the intermolt period. A putative pheromone liberated by receptive females to attract males is presumed to be released through the mobile vulvae and not through the urine.