Abstract:

This dataset contains assessments of behavior in the California sea hare (Aplysia californica) following exposure to crude oil. The primary reflex that was examined is the tail-withdrawal reflex which is defined as the amount of time it takes for the tail to relax after a tail tap. This endpoint is considered to be a measure of anti-predator response. Aplysia was exposed to control or crude oil for 24 hours prior to behavioral testing. This dataset includes raw data of collected video scoring. Videos used in the analysis in this dataset are in the GRIIDC database under the UDI R6.x804.000:0007 and DOI 10.7266/n7-92pb-m318.

Suggested Citation:

Zlatkin, Rebecca L. and Martin Grosell. 2020. Effects of crude oil on the California sea hare (Aplysia californica) tail withdrawal response. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/VMG63446

Purpose:

To review videos to determine the impacts of crude oil on the tail-withdrawal reflex in the California sea hare (Aplysia californica).

Data Parameters and Units:

Dataset contains 2 Excel files “Aplysia video tail withdrawal scoring” and “Aplysia animal length measurements”, and a readme word doc. The headers are Animal identification number, Animal mass (grams), Replicate tank number, Sum fifty PAH (micrograms per liter), Time to fifty percent relaxation Replicate 1 (seconds), Time to fifty percent relaxation Replicate 2 (seconds), Time to fifty percent relaxation Replicate 3 (seconds), Resting body length (centimeters), Tail relaxed length (centimeters), General replicate note additions or explanations for no data (if applicable), Animal number, Replicate 1 Animal length (centimeters), Replicate 2 Animal length (centimeters), and Replicate 3 Animal length (centimeters).

Methods:

Aplysia were obtained from the National Institute of Health (NIH) National Resource for Aplysia at the University of Miami. Aplysia were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: control seawater, seawater containing a dilution of source oil, or seawater containing a dilution of weathered oil. Following acclimation, animals were tested using a tail-withdrawal reflex behavioral assay (see further methods in readme file). Details regarding the crude oil exposures can be found with the corresponding video dataset on the GRIIDC database.

Individual Files: