Laboratory behavioural assay of insect magnetoreception: magnetosensitivity of Periplaneta americana.

VÁCHA, Martin. Laboratory behavioural assay of insect magnetoreception: magnetosensitivity of Periplaneta americana. Journal of Experimental Biology. 2006, vol. 209, No 19, p. 3897-3901. ISSN 0022-0949.

Basic information

• Original name: Laboratory behavioural assay of insect magnetoreception: magnetosensitivity of Periplaneta americana.
• Name in Czech: Laboratorní behaviorální test hmyzí magnetorecepce: magnetosensitivita Periplaneta americana
• Authors: VÁCHA, Martin (203 Czech Republic, guarantor).
• Edition: Journal of Experimental Biology, 2006, 0022-0949.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 30105 Physiology
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 2.631
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14310/06:00015824
• Organization unit: Faculty of Science
• UT WoS: 000240619400018
• Keywords in English: magnetoreception insect behaviour periplaneta
• Tags: magnetoreception insect behaviour periplaneta

Abstract

A relatively simple all-laboratory behavioural assay of insect magnetoreception has been developed. We found non-conditioned reactions of American cockroach to the periodical shifts of the geomagnetic field. The movement activity of animals individually placed into Petri dishes was scored as a number of body turns. Test groups were exposed to a 90-min interval with the horizontal component of the geomagnetic field periodically rotated by 60deg back and forth with 5 min periodicity. The number of body turns was compared with the preceding and following intervals and with the corresponding interval of the control group kept in the natural field. We obtained a significant increase in activity when a change in field was applied. Interestingly, the period of increased activity did not coincide precisely with the 90 min stimulation interval. The onset of animal restlessness was delayed by tens of minutes and persisted correspondingly after the stimulation stopped. Respective evaluation of the analysis of the data was suggested and verified. Owing to its simplicity and minimal manipulation of the insects, together with low demands on the memory and motivation state of animals, the approach potentially may be used as a laboratory diagnostic tool indicating magnetoreception in insect neurophysiology research.

Abstract (in Czech)

A relatively simple all-laboratory behavioural assay of insect magnetoreception has been developed. We found non-conditioned reactions of American cockroach to the periodical shifts of the geomagnetic field. The movement activity of animals individually placed into Petri dishes was scored as a number of body turns. Test groups were exposed to a 90-min interval with the horizontal component of the geomagnetic field periodically rotated by 60deg back and forth with 5 min periodicity. The number of body turns was compared with the preceding and following intervals and with the corresponding interval of the control group kept in the natural field. We obtained a significant increase in activity when a change in field was applied. Interestingly, the period of increased activity did not coincide precisely with the 90 min stimulation interval. The onset of animal restlessness was delayed by tens of minutes and persisted correspondingly after the stimulation stopped. Respective evaluation of the analysis of the data was suggested and verified. Owing to its simplicity and minimal manipulation of the insects, together with low demands on the memory and motivation state of animals, the approach potentially may be used as a laboratory diagnostic tool indicating magnetoreception in insect neurophysiology research.

Links

• GA206/05/0911, research and development project: Name: Analýza magnetorecepčního chování laboratorních druhů hmyzu

Investor: Czech Science Foundation, Analysis of magnetoreception behavior of laboratory insects

• MSM0021622416, plan (intention): Name: Diverzita biotických společenstev a populací: kauzální analýza variability v prostoru a čase

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR, Diversity of Biotic Communities and Populations: Causal Analysis of variation in space and time