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PreprintCited by 1Physiological and biochemical adaptationsIon channel regulation and functionNeurobiology and Insect Physiology Research

Compensation of the effects of temperature on a motor system in the crab, Cancer borealis

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Jacquerie, Kathleen, DiMartino, James M., Dalal, Ananya, Zeng, Ji, Marder, Eve·2026·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
DOI 10.64898/2026.06.23.734078PMC PMC13344998
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Abstract

Rising ocean temperatures challenge ectothermic animals to maintain essential behaviors such as movement and feeding. We asked how a complete neuromuscular pathway preserves function when every component process responds differently to warming. In the pyloric system of the crab Cancer borealis , we simultaneously recorded motor nerve activity, muscle membrane potential, and contraction. Warming preserved rhythmic nerve activity and excitatory junctional potentials, but contraction declined and failed first. Fixed low-frequency stimulation, mimicking cold-temperature motor output, resulted in reduced contraction at warm temperatures, whereas higher-frequency stimulation, mimicking warm-temperature motor output, partially restored contraction. Warming hyperpolarized muscle fibers, moving them farther from contraction threshold, but also reduced input resistance, which together limited over-excitability. However, high-potassium stimulation revealed that the muscle contractile machinery remained functional. Thus, warming acts differently across levels, and overlapping compensatory mechanisms help preserve neuromuscular function across a wide range of temperatures. Significance statement: Cold-blooded animals that live in climates with significant seasonal changes in ambient temperature must have myriad mechanisms to function over a wide range of environmental conditions. We explore the effects of temperature at multiple levels of organization within the stomatogastric system of the crab, Cancer borealis . We find a series of compensatory mechanisms that cooperatively help maintain stable function despite the fact that the motor patterns, neuromuscular junctions and muscle functions are all differently temperature dependent.

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  • By monitoring ocean temperatures, it is possible to ask mechanistic questions about how nervous systems from wild-caught animals are altered by the environment.

    “By monitoring the ocean temperatures, it is possible to ask mechanistic questions about how nervous systems from wild-caught animals are altered by the environment [67][68][69][70].”

    From A feature and not a bug: Replication failures can lead to new biology (2026) · cites this paper as [67]

    The Discussion (page unavailable) links seasonal ocean temperatures to questions about how the crab motor system maintains function and calls for mechanistic study of environmental change. But the Materials and methods (page unavailable) describe laboratory-acclimated crabs and controlled bath temperatures, not monitoring ocean temperatures to assess environmental effects on their nervous systems. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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Authors
Jacquerie, K., DiMartino, J. M., Dalal, A., Zeng, J., & Marder, E.
Affiliations
Brandeis University (US)
Corresponding author
  • Jacquerie, Kathleen
  • Marder, Eve
ORCID
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher
openRxiv
Published
2026-06-29
Volume
123
Issue
43
Pages
e2625185123-e2625185123
ISSN
0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.64898/2026.06.23.734078
PMC
PMC13344998
OpenAlex
W7223135278
Cited by
0
References
1
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (cc-by)
Funders
  • Computational Neuroscience Training Grant (5T90DA059112-03)
  • Wallonie- Belgium International - WBI
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Physiological and biochemical adaptations
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Ion channel regulation and function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
Keywords
Cancer borealis, pyloric rhythm, warming, muscle contraction, motor neuron activity, excitatory junction potentials, synaptic integration, overexcitabilities, hyperpolarization, potassium-induced contracture, ocean warming, compensatory mechanisms

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