Behavior

We have been studying three aspects of Berghia's behavior: Multimodal navigation, feeding, and reproductive behaviors.  

PhD student, Phoenix Quinlan found that Berghia can navigate using visual stimuli, indicating that it has spatial vision despite its extremely simple eyes.  She also found that it readily tracks prey using olfactory cues. There is a strong interaction between these stimuli.

Kate Otter, another PhD student, is studying approach and avoidance behaviors performed by Berghia. Berghia  feeds exclusively on the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana. It sequesters the stinging nematocysts in its cerata as a borrowed chemical defense. Kate is looking at how Berghia assesses the cost/benefit of feeding. One thing that the slugs do is feed in groups to mob the amenone. This might minimize the injury to individual slugs.

Postdoc, Cheyenne Tait, is studying reproductive behaviors. She has identified several neuropeptides involved in reproductive behaviors including Egg Laying Hormone (ELH) and Conopressin, the molluscan ortholog of vasopressin / oxytocin.