Dr Lucille Chapuis, A/Prof Craig Radford, Emily Leedham and Jimmy Rapson (University of Auckland)
The world’s oceans are increasingly affected by human development, but many of these impacts are unseen. We know very little about how disturbances such as noise pollution affect marine animals, particularly invertebrates. Researchers from the University of Auckland have used the new Micro-computed Tomography (MCT) beamline to study how marine animals sense their ever-changing environment.
Detection of sound plays a critical role in the life history of many animals. Recent studies have revealed that marine invertebrates can detect sound, yet the mechanisms behind this function remain unclear. This project aimed to explore how crustaceans, like shrimps and crabs, use their statocyst organ to sense sound.
Using the MCT beamline and its high frame rate pco.edge camera detector, the research team captured the first images of movement of the statocyst of the snapping shrimp Alpheus richardsoni when exposed to sound particle motion. This pilot study proved the capacity of the MCT to successfully acquire motion triggered by sound in an invertebrate. The initial tests also allowed the team to optimise parameters such as exposure time, x-ray energy and contrast levels.
The research advances our understanding of marine invertebrate sensory systems, which is fundamental to assessing the impact of noise pollution on these creatures. The findings could influence environmental regulations, enhance public awareness about marine conservation efforts, and inform on how noise pollution might affect the productivity of crustacean aquaculture systems if it changes the behaviour of the animals.
Related research:
Chapuis L, Andres C-S, Gerneke DA and Radford CA. 2024. Bioimaging marine crustacean brain: quantitative comparison of micro-CT preparations in an Alpheid snapping shrimp. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 18:1428825. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2024.1428825
