Neuroanatomy of a hydrothermal vent shrimp provides insights into the evolution of crustacean integrative brain centers

Type Article
Date 2019-08
Language English
Author(s) Machon Julia1, Krieger Jakob2, Meth Rebecca2, Zbinden Magali1, Ravaux Juliette1, Montagné Nicolas3, Chertemps Thomas3, Harzsch Steffen2
Affiliation(s) 1 : Sorbonne Université, UMR CNRS MNHN 7208 Biologie des organismes et écosystèmes aquatiques (BOREA), Equipe Adaptation aux Milieux Extrêmes, Paris, France
2 : Department of Cytology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Greifswald, Zoological Institute and Museum, Greifswald, Germany
3 : Sorbonne Université, UPEC, Univ Paris Diderot, CNRS, INRA, IRD, Institute of Ecology & Environmental Sciences of Paris (iEES-Paris), Paris, France
Source Elife (2050-084X) (eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd), 2019-08 , Vol. 8 , P. e47550 (37p.)
DOI 10.7554/eLife.47550
WOS© Times Cited 12
Abstract

Alvinocaridid shrimps are emblematic representatives of the deep hydrothermal vent fauna at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. They are adapted to a mostly aphotic habitat with extreme physicochemical conditions in the vicinity of the hydrothermal fluid emissions. Here, we investigated the brain architecture of the vent shrimp Rimicaris exoculata to understand possible adaptations of its nervous system to the hydrothermal sensory landscape. Its brain is modified from the crustacean brain ground pattern by featuring relatively small visual and olfactory neuropils that contrast with well-developed higher integrative centers, the hemiellipsoid bodies. We propose that these structures in vent shrimps may fulfill functions in addition to higher order sensory processing and suggest a role in place memory. Our study promotes vent shrimps as fascinating models to gain insights into sensory adaptations to peculiar environmental conditions, and the evolutionary transformation of specific brain areas in Crustacea.

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Machon Julia, Krieger Jakob, Meth Rebecca, Zbinden Magali, Ravaux Juliette, Montagné Nicolas, Chertemps Thomas, Harzsch Steffen (2019). Neuroanatomy of a hydrothermal vent shrimp provides insights into the evolution of crustacean integrative brain centers. Elife, 8, e47550 (37p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.47550 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00509/62108/