Impact of contaminants and temperature on central pattern generator neural circuits

Animals typically modify their behavior when confronted by environmental change. Many motor behaviors, such as those that would cause an organism to approach, avoid, consume, or reject a stimulus encountered in their environment are produced by groups of neurons termed central pattern generators (CPGs). In euopisthobranch mollusks, stereotypic motor behaviors such as feeding, and locomotion are controlled by limited numbers of large-diameter neurons that are accessible for physiological or optical recording. This project will examine motor systems in the tropical sea hare, Bursatella leachii to assess effects of environmental factors on feeding and locomotion. Bursatella are found during the summer months on the north coast of Puerto Rico. They have demonstrated resilience to environmental challenges, including hurricanes and the 1994 oil spill near the public beach of Escambrón Point in San Juan These studies will provide an opportunity to examine sub-lethal effects on complex neural circuits that are critical for survival of the organism.