Plasticity of feeding behavior in the opisthobranch mollusc Navanax. 1979

A J Susswein, and M V Bennett

Several forms of plasticity of feeding behavior were investigated in Navanax. Navanax is a gastropod mollusc which lacks a radula, and ingests prey with suction caused by rapid pharyngeal expansion. Feeding is little affected by handling or posture and is resistant to the noxious stimulus of cutting through the body wall. Feeding is affected by arousal, as shown by a decrease in latency following initial exposure to food. The feeding response also habituates, as shown by an increase in latency when feeding responses are elicited without allowing animals to engulf food. The latency increase is not likely to be due to motor fatigue, since it can be partially reversed by dishabituation with an alternate prey species. Continued feeding causes satiation, as shown by increased feeding latencies and eventual cessation of feeding after a mean weight gain of 42.0% of initial animal weight (N = 12). Another form of plasticity occurs when Navanax are presented with food too large to swallow whole. Navanax either cease to respond after a few presentations, perhaps due to habituation, or maintain suction on the partially swallowed prey for an extended period of time. During extended sucks, the more deeply ingested portions are digested.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008974 Mollusca A phylum of the kingdom Metazoa. Mollusca have soft, unsegmented bodies with an anterior head, a dorsal visceral mass, and a ventral foot. Most are encased in a protective calcareous shell. It includes the classes GASTROPODA; BIVALVIA; CEPHALOPODA; Aplacophora; Scaphopoda; Polyplacophora; and Monoplacophora. Molluscs,Mollusks,Mollusc,Molluscas,Mollusk
D011187 Posture The position or physical attitude of the body. Postures
D011235 Predatory Behavior Instinctual behavior pattern in which food is obtained by killing and consuming other species. Predation,Behavior, Predatory,Predatory Behaviors
D011930 Reaction Time The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed. Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D005247 Feeding Behavior Behavioral responses or sequences associated with eating including modes of feeding, rhythmic patterns of eating, and time intervals. Dietary Habits,Eating Behavior,Faith-based Dietary Restrictions,Feeding Patterns,Feeding-Related Behavior,Food Habits,Diet Habits,Eating Habits,Behavior, Eating,Behavior, Feeding,Behavior, Feeding-Related,Behaviors, Eating,Behaviors, Feeding,Behaviors, Feeding-Related,Diet Habit,Dietary Habit,Dietary Restriction, Faith-based,Dietary Restrictions, Faith-based,Eating Behaviors,Eating Habit,Faith based Dietary Restrictions,Faith-based Dietary Restriction,Feeding Behaviors,Feeding Pattern,Feeding Related Behavior,Feeding-Related Behaviors,Food Habit,Habit, Diet,Habit, Dietary,Habit, Eating,Habit, Food,Habits, Diet,Pattern, Feeding,Patterns, Feeding,Restrictions, Faith-based Dietary
D006234 Handling, Psychological Physical manipulation of animals and humans to induce a behavioral or other psychological reaction. In experimental psychology, the animal is handled to induce a stress situation or to study the effects of "gentling" or "mothering". Handling (Psychology),Handling, Psychology,Psychological Handling,Psychology Handling
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001143 Arousal Cortical vigilance or readiness of tone, presumed to be in response to sensory stimulation via the reticular activating system. Vigilance, Cortical,Arousals,Cortical Vigilance
D012527 Satiation Full gratification of a need or desire followed by a state of relative insensitivity to that particular need or desire. Satiations

Related Publications

A J Susswein, and M V Bennett
January 1988, Peptides,
A J Susswein, and M V Bennett
October 1983, Journal of neurocytology,
A J Susswein, and M V Bennett
June 1975, The Journal of physiology,
A J Susswein, and M V Bennett
January 1985, Tissue & cell,
A J Susswein, and M V Bennett
November 1980, Journal of natural products,
A J Susswein, and M V Bennett
February 1961, The Journal of biophysical and biochemical cytology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!