VÁCHA, Martin, Tereza PŮŽOVÁ and Dana DRŠTKOVÁ. Tenebrio beetle magnetic orientation is sensitive to wavelength of light and inclination. In The 8th Congress of the International Society for Neuroethology. Vancouver, Canada: The International Society for Neuroethology, 2007, p. 59-59.
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Basic information
Original name Tenebrio beetle magnetic orientation is sensitive to wavelength of light and inclination.
Name in Czech Magnetická orientace potemníka moučného závisí na vlnové délce světla a na inklinaci.
Authors VÁCHA, Martin, Tereza PŮŽOVÁ and Dana DRŠTKOVÁ.
Edition Vancouver, Canada, The 8th Congress of the International Society for Neuroethology, p. 59-59, 1 pp. 2007.
Publisher The International Society for Neuroethology
Other information
Original language English
Type of outcome Proceedings paper
Field of Study 30105 Physiology
Country of publisher Czech Republic
Confidentiality degree is not subject to a state or trade secret
WWW URL
Organization unit Faculty of Science
Keywords in English insect; magnetoreception; light; inclination
Tags inclination, insect, light, Magnetoreception
Tags International impact, Reviewed
Changed by Changed by: doc. RNDr. Martin Vácha, Ph.D., učo 1376. Changed: 21/7/2008 10:24.
Abstract
Numerous animals were reported to use the magnetic field of the Earth as an orientation cue. Different animals utilize the geomagnetic information differently. Some perceive the polarity of geomagnetic vector directly (polarity compass) while other species derive the difference between Northward and Southward directions from the dip of the geomagnetic vector (inclination compass). Besides, some animals show shift of their magnetic bearing when illuminated by lights of diverse colours. Such behavioural characteristics of compass orientation may tell more about possible neural mechanism(s) of magnetic perception. A number of insect species are known to use magnetic compass for orientation. However, very little is known about characteristics of their magnetic compasses. In the present study, the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor was tested for sensitivity of its magnetic compass orientation both to reversal of the inclination of the magnetic vector and the change of the illumination colour. We used a standart conditionig protocol: In both experiments, in the first step, animals were trained to memorize the magnetic position of a light source attracting them. In the following step, beetles released individually in the centre of a circular arena showed preference of the direction which corresponded to the magnetic bearing previously learned. We found significant impacts of both factors changed between the training and the test: inclination reversal and the change from 390 nm to 500 nm of the illuminating light wavelength. The results show Tenebrio compass as an inclination-sensitive and wavelength-sensitive and may contribute to the discussion about what modes of sensory transduction are used in insect magnetoreception.
Abstract (in Czech)
Numerous animals were reported to use the magnetic field of the Earth as an orientation cue. Different animals utilize the geomagnetic information differently. Some perceive the polarity of geomagnetic vector directly (polarity compass) while other species derive the difference between Northward and Southward directions from the dip of the geomagnetic vector (inclination compass). Besides, some animals show shift of their magnetic bearing when illuminated by lights of diverse colours. Such behavioural characteristics of compass orientation may tell more about possible neural mechanism(s) of magnetic perception. A number of insect species are known to use magnetic compass for orientation. However, very little is known about characteristics of their magnetic compasses. In the present study, the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor was tested for sensitivity of its magnetic compass orientation both to reversal of the inclination of the magnetic vector and the change of the illumination colour. We used a standart conditionig protocol: In both experiments, in the first step, animals were trained to memorize the magnetic position of a light source attracting them. In the following step, beetles released individually in the centre of a circular arena showed preference of the direction which corresponded to the magnetic bearing previously learned. We found significant impacts of both factors changed between the training and the test: inclination reversal and the change from 390 nm to 500 nm of the illuminating light wavelength. The results show Tenebrio compass as an inclination-sensitive and wavelength-sensitive and may contribute to the discussion about what modes of sensory transduction are used in insect magnetoreception.
Links
GA206/05/0911, research and development projectName: 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
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