Adrien MATHOU

Sensory detection in hydrothermal shrimp

Alvinocaridid shrimps are emblematic of hydrothermal sites on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The mechanisms that enable these shrimps to detect hydrothermal sites and orient themselves in this totally aphotic habitat remain enigmatic. The AMEX team is interested in the sensory capacities of these shrimp, from the peripheral system (morpho-anatomy of sensory organs, identification of receptors involved) to the central nervous system (brain lobes). The role of olfaction in these species is less important than expected, while temperature proves to be a key clue in the localization of emissions. The presence of extensive biofilm on olfactory structures also raises the question of the role of olfaction in sensory perception, and the role of this biofilm in interactions with the environment.

The aims of my thesis are:

1. to identify the molecular players in olfaction and thermoreception, and any variations between different Alvinocarididae species and life stages (larvae, juveniles, adults);
2. to study the ontogeny of sensory mechanisms from a morphological (peripheral and central nervous system) and molecular point of view, since larvae and adults have very different environments and lifestyles;
3. to study the role of the bacterial biofilm and its interactions with the environment and with the shrimp.