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Effects of the herbicide metolachlor on the perception of chemical stimuli by Orconectes rusticus

Previous research has suggested that certain environmental pollutants interfere with the perception of chemical stimuli. It is not clear if this interference comes from masking the odor, where the animal cannot detect the signal over the background noise, or if there is a physiological effect on the olfactory receptor cells or neuromusculature that influences the animal’s behavior. We acutely exposed crayfish to the agricultural chemical metolachlor. We then tested the ability of crayfish to respond appropriately to 2 chemical stimuli important to their survival: 1) detection of damaged conspecifics, and 2) location of a food source in the absence of metolachlor. A damaged conspecific, commonly known as an alarm signal, produces a chemical signal composed of bodily fluids that could signify a predation event to the individual receiving the signal. Results indicated that crayfish were unable to successfully locate a food source after being exposed to metolachlor. In the presence of an alarm signal, animals exposed to metolachlor walked faster than nonexposed animals and tended to walk in the direction of the alarm signal instead of away, as in the control animals. Crayfish may perceive aspects of the chemical signal but make inappropriate decisions in response to the information received as a result of exposure to metolachlor.