Visually elicited turning behavior in Rana pipiens: comparative organization and neural control of escape and prey capture

1996 ◽  
Vol 178 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J.Roche King ◽  
C.M. Comer
Keyword(s):  
Neural Control ◽  
Rana Pipiens ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Turning Behavior

scholarly journals Comparative neuroethology of feeding control in molluscs

2002 ◽  
Vol 205 (7) ◽  
pp. 877-896 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. H. Elliott ◽  
A. J. Susswein
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Functional Properties ◽  
Neural Control ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Internal State ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Carnivorous Species ◽  
Capture Techniques

SUMMARY Over the last 30 years, many laboratories have examined, in parallel, the feeding behaviour of gastropod molluscs and the properties of the nervous system that give rise to this behaviour. Equal attention to both behavioural and neurobiological issues has provided deep insight into the functioning of the nervous system in generating and controlling behaviour. The conclusions derived from studies on gastropod feeding are generally consistent with those from other systems, but often provide more detailed information on the behavioural function of a particular property of the nervous system. A review of the literature on gastropod feeding illustrates a number of important messages. (i) Many of the herbivorous gastropods display similarities in behaviour that are reflected in corresponding similarities in neural anatomy,pharmacology and physiology. By contrast, the same aspects of the behaviour of different carnivorous species are quite variable, possibly because of their specialised prey-capture techniques. Nonetheless, some aspects of the neural control of feeding are preserved. (ii) Feeding in all species is flexible,with the behaviour and the physiology adapting to changes in the current environment and internal state and as a result of past experience. Flexibility arises via processes that may take place at many neural sites, and much of the modulation underlying behavioural flexibility is understood at a systems and at a cellular level. (iii) Neurones seem to have specific functions that are consistent with their endogenous properties and their synaptic connections, suggesting that individual neurones code specific pieces of information (i.e. they are `grandmother cells'). However, the properties of a neurone can be extremely complex and can be understood only in the context of the complete neural circuit and the behaviour that it controls. In systems that are orders of magnitude more complex, it would be impossible to understand the functional properties of an individual neurone, even if it also coded specific information. (iv) Systems such as gastropod feeding may provide a model for understanding the functional properties of more complex systems.

scholarly journals Underwater turning movement during foraging in Hydromedusa maximiliani (Testudines, Chelidae) from southeastern Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 977-982
Author(s):  
O Rocha-Barbosa ◽  
LSL Hohl ◽  
IA Novelli ◽  
BM Sousa ◽  
SC Gomides ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prey Capture ◽  
Rigid Bodies ◽  
Body Armor ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Freshwater Turtle ◽  
Small Fish ◽  
Turning Behavior ◽  
Analysis Of Variation ◽  
Limb Flexion ◽  
Flexion And Extension

A type of locomotor behavior observed in animals with rigid bodies, that can be found in many animals with exoskeletons, shells, or other forms of body armor, to change direction, is the turning behavior. Aquatic floated-turning behavior among rigid bodies animals have been studied in whirligig beetles, boxfish, and more recently in freshwater turtle, Chrysemys picta. In the laboratory we observed a different kind of turning movement that consists in an underwater turning movement during foraging, wherein the animal pivoted its body, using one of the hindlimbs as the fixed-point support in the substratum. We describe, analyze and quantify this movement during foraging in Hydromedusa maximiliani, using observations made in the laboratory. We studied 3 adult specimens (2 males, 1 female) and 2 non-sexed juveniles of H. maximiliani. They were kept individually in an aquarium filled with water and small fish. They were filmed, in dorsal view, at 30 frames per second. Sequences were analyzed frame by frame and points were marked on limbs and shell to enable analysis of variation in limb flexion and extension, as well as rotation movements. While foraging, turtles frequently turned their bodies, using one hind leg as the pivot point. This underwater turning movement, in addition to slow movements with the neck stretched, or staying nearly immobile and scanning the surroundings with lateral movements of the neck (in arcs up to 180°), and fast attacks of neck, may increase prey capture rates.

Locomotor repertoire of the larval zebrafish: swimming, turning and prey capture

2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (17) ◽  
pp. 2565-2579 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.A. Budick ◽  
D.M. O'Malley
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Neural Control ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Large Angle ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Behavior Patterns ◽  
Brachydanio Rerio ◽  
Larval Zebrafish

Larval zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio) are a popular model system because of their genetic attributes, transparency and relative simplicity. They have approximately 200 neurons that project from the brainstem into the spinal cord. Many of these neurons can be individually identified and laser-ablated in intact larvae. This should facilitate cellular-level characterization of the descending control of larval behavior patterns. Towards this end, we attempt to describe the range of locomotor behavior patterns exhibited by zebrafish larvae. Using high-speed digital imaging, a variety of swimming and turning behaviors were analyzed in 6- to 9-day-old larval fish. Swimming episodes appeared to fall into two categories, with the point of maximal bending of the larva's body occurring either near the mid-body (burst swims) or closer to the tail (slow swims). Burst swims also involved larger-amplitude bending, faster speeds and greater yaw than slow swims. Turning behaviors clearly fell into two distinct categories: fast, large-angle escape turns characteristic of escape responses, and much slower routine turns lacking the large counterbend that often accompanies escape turns. Prey-capture behaviors were also recorded. They were made up of simpler locomotor components that appeared to be similar to routine turns and slow swims. The different behaviors observed were analyzed with regard to possible underlying neural control systems. Our analysis suggests the existence of discrete sets of controlling neurons and helps to explain the need for the roughly 200 spinal-projecting nerve cells in the brainstem of the larval zebrafish.

Comparative Morphology of Intercellular Bridges Between Developing Germ Cells of the Ovary

1970 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 328-329
Author(s):  
J. R. Ruby ◽  
R. F. Dyer ◽  
R. G. Skalko ◽  
R. F. Gasser ◽  
E. P. Volpe
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cells ◽  
Rana Pipiens ◽  
Comparative Morphology ◽  
Dense Material ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Microscope Examination ◽  
Electron Dense Material ◽  
Intercellular Bridges ◽  
Cytoplasmic Side ◽  
Intercellular Connections

An electron microscope examination of fetal ovaries has revealed that developing germ cells are connected by intercellular bridges. In this investigation several species have been studied including human, mouse, chicken, and tadpole (Rana pipiens). These studies demonstrate that intercellular connections are similar in morphology regardless of the species.Basically, all bridges are characterized by a band of electron-dense material on the cytoplasmic side of the tri-laminar membrane surrounding the connection (Fig.l). This membrane is continuous with the plasma membrane of the conjoined cells. The dense material, however, never extends beyond the limits of the bridge. Variations in the configuration of intercellular connections were noted in all ovaries studied. However, the bridges in each individual species usually exhibits one structural characteristic seldom found in the others. For example, bridges in the human ovary very often have large blebs projecting from the lateral borders whereas the sides of the connections in the mouse gonad merely demonstrate a slight convexity.

The application of video-enhanced constrast/differential interference constrast microscopy in conjunction with whole mount electron microscopy to the study of organelle transport

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 66-67
Author(s):  
J. H. Hayden
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Rana Pipiens ◽  
Silver Film ◽  
Immunofluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Organelle Transport ◽  
Linear Element ◽  
Whole Mount ◽  
Carbon Coated ◽  
Linear Elements ◽  
Dic Microscopy

In a previous study, Allen video-enhanced constrast/differential interference constrast (AVEC-DIC) microscopy was used in conjunction with immunofluorescence microscopy to demonstrate that organelles and vesicle move in either direction along linear elements composed of microtubules. However, this study was limited in that the number of microtubules making up a linear element could not be determined. To overcome this limitation, we have used AVEC-DIC microscopy in conjunction with whole mount electron microscopy.Keratocytes from Rana pipiens were grown on glass coverslips as described elsewhere. Gold London Finder grids were Formvar- and carbon coated, and sterilized by exposure to ultraviolet light. It is important to select a Formvar film that gives a grey reflection when it is floated on water. A silver film is too thick and will detract from the image in the light microscope.

Neural Control of Reproduction

1998 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-376
Author(s):  
Robert A. Steiner
Keyword(s):  
Neural Control
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