Infochemicals Recognized by Crustaceans

Chemical communication has been entitled as the ‘language of life’ for aquatic organisms who have developed a variety of highly sensitive and sophisticated mechanisms to communicate in an undoubtedly chemically complex environment. Crustaceans use chemical cues and signals for coordination of key behaviours; food location, predator detection, aggregation, mate finding and as indicators for an animals physiology, hierarchy status, health, moult state to name just a few. These chemicals can be molecules simply released as a by-product of another function or specifically released as a direct communication signal. A complex, mechanistic pathway then detects these cues and relays them to the brain to elicit the behavioural response required. This means of communication is at risk from anthropogenic influences in the form of pollution including heavy metals and microplastics as well as the changing state of oceanic chemistry due to Global warming. Research into the ability of crustaceans to adapt and survive is still in its infancy but ever increasing research into the use of infochemicals is providing us with an insight into the complex sensory world of crustaceans.