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Social Status-Dependent Changes In Behavior And Neurogenesis In The Crayfish Procambarus Clarkii, Cha-Kyong Song

Biology Dissertations

Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) form dominance hierarchies, which are patterns of repeated fights with expected outcomes of winner and loser. Establishment of hierarchies allows dominants the first access to limited resources over subordinates, and leads to behavioral and cellular changes corresponding to the social status. Here, the animals¡¯ responses to an unexpected unilateral touch, a non-social stimulus, were examined with respect to their social status and to their social context. Isolates oriented to the stimulus source with raised claws and elevated posture. Dominants also oriented to the stimulus both when tested alone and in the presence of a subordinate. Subordinates oriented …