Prey capture in the praying mantis Tenodera aridifolia sinensis: coordination of the capture sequence and strike movements

1990 ◽  
Vol 148 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Corrette

Coordination of the complete capture sequence of the praying mantis has been studied in detail using several specially developed photographic techniques. The mantis was able to attack prey throughout a large three-dimensional capture zone by changing body orientation relative to its perch. This orientation centred prey on the median plane and brought it within an attack zone relative to the prothorax. Alignment with the median plane simplifies the attack since the prey can then be localized using only two dimensions. The attack comprised several stereotyped components which together formed a single movement sequence of all six legs. Although too rapid for visual feedback, a simple mechanism permits steering of these movements to capture prey at particular locations within the attack zone. These findings are contrasted with those from studies of mantis visual behaviour and a simple mechanism is suggested for how prey location is encoded to produce steering of the attack.

Author(s):  
J. Holy ◽  
G. Schatten

One of the classic limitations of light microscopy has been the fact that three dimensional biological events could only be visualized in two dimensions. Recently, this shortcoming has been overcome by combining the technologies of laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and computer processing of microscopical data by volume rendering methods. We have employed these techniques to examine morphogenetic events characterizing early development of sea urchin embryos. Specifically, the fourth cleavage division was examined because it is at this point that the first morphological signs of cell differentiation appear, manifested in the production of macromeres and micromeres by unequally dividing vegetal blastomeres.The mitotic spindle within vegetal blastomeres undergoing unequal cleavage are highly polarized and develop specialized, flattened asters toward the micromere pole. In order to reconstruct the three-dimensional features of these spindles, both isolated spindles and intact, extracted embryos were fluorescently labeled with antibodies directed against either centrosomes or tubulin.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nima Afkhami-Jeddi ◽  
Henry Cohn ◽  
Thomas Hartman ◽  
Amirhossein Tajdini

Abstract We study the torus partition functions of free bosonic CFTs in two dimensions. Integrating over Narain moduli defines an ensemble-averaged free CFT. We calculate the averaged partition function and show that it can be reinterpreted as a sum over topologies in three dimensions. This result leads us to conjecture that an averaged free CFT in two dimensions is holographically dual to an exotic theory of three-dimensional gravity with U(1)c×U(1)c symmetry and a composite boundary graviton. Additionally, for small central charge c, we obtain general constraints on the spectral gap of free CFTs using the spinning modular bootstrap, construct examples of Narain compactifications with a large gap, and find an analytic bootstrap functional corresponding to a single self-dual boson.


2012 ◽  
Vol 696 ◽  
pp. 228-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kourmatzis ◽  
J. S. Shrimpton

AbstractThe fundamental mechanisms responsible for the creation of electrohydrodynamically driven roll structures in free electroconvection between two plates are analysed with reference to traditional Rayleigh–Bénard convection (RBC). Previously available knowledge limited to two dimensions is extended to three-dimensions, and a wide range of electric Reynolds numbers is analysed, extending into a fully inherently three-dimensional turbulent regime. Results reveal that structures appearing in three-dimensional electrohydrodynamics (EHD) are similar to those observed for RBC, and while two-dimensional EHD results bear some similarities with the three-dimensional results there are distinct differences. Analysis of two-point correlations and integral length scales show that full three-dimensional electroconvection is more chaotic than in two dimensions and this is also noted by qualitatively observing the roll structures that arise for both low (${\mathit{Re}}_{E} = 1$) and high electric Reynolds numbers (up to ${\mathit{Re}}_{E} = 120$). Furthermore, calculations of mean profiles and second-order moments along with energy budgets and spectra have examined the validity of neglecting the fluctuating electric field ${ E}_{i}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } $ in the Reynolds-averaged EHD equations and provide insight into the generation and transport mechanisms of turbulent EHD. Spectral and spatial data clearly indicate how fluctuating energy is transferred from electrical to hydrodynamic forms, on moving through the domain away from the charging electrode. It is shown that ${ E}_{i}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } $ is not negligible close to the walls and terms acting as sources and sinks in the turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent scalar flux and turbulent scalar variance equations are examined. Profiles of hydrodynamic terms in the budgets resemble those in the literature for RBC; however there are terms specific to EHD that are significant, indicating that the transfer of energy in EHD is also attributed to further electrodynamic terms and a strong coupling exists between the charge flux and variance, due to the ionic drift term.


2007 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Schmidt-Rohr

A simple numerical approach for calculating theq-dependence of the scattering intensity in small-angle X-ray or neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS) is discussed. For a user-defined scattering density on a lattice, the scattering intensityI(q) (qis the modulus of the scattering vector) is calculated by three-dimensional (or two-dimensional) numerical Fourier transformation and spherical summation inqspace, with a simple smoothing algorithm. An exact and simple correction for continuous rather than discrete (lattice-point) scattering density is described. Applications to relatively densely packed particles in solids (e.g.nanocomposites) are shown, where correlation effects make single-particle (pure form-factor) calculations invalid. The algorithm can be applied to particles of any shape that can be defined on the chosen cubic lattice and with any size distribution, while those features pose difficulties to a traditional treatment in terms of form and structure factors. For particles of identical but potentially complex shapes, numerical calculation of the form factor is described. Long parallel rods and platelets of various cross-section shapes are particularly convenient to treat, since the calculation is reduced to two dimensions. The method is used to demonstrate that the scattering intensity from `randomly' parallel-packed long cylinders is not described by simple 1/qand 1/q4power laws, but at cylinder volume fractions of more than ∼25% includes a correlation peak. The simulations highlight that the traditional evaluation of the peak position overestimates the cylinder thickness by a factor of ∼1.5. It is also shown that a mix of various relatively densely packed long boards can produceI(q) ≃ 1/q, usually observed for rod-shaped particles, without a correlation peak.


Author(s):  
Guy Bouchitté ◽  
Ornella Mattei ◽  
Graeme W. Milton ◽  
Pierre Seppecher

In many applications of structural engineering, the following question arises: given a set of forces f 1 ,  f 2 , …,  f N applied at prescribed points x 1 ,  x 2 , …,  x N , under what constraints on the forces does there exist a truss structure (or wire web) with all elements under tension that supports these forces? Here we provide answer to such a question for any configuration of the terminal points x 1 ,  x 2 , …,  x N in the two- and three-dimensional cases. Specifically, the existence of a web is guaranteed by a necessary and sufficient condition on the loading which corresponds to a finite dimensional linear programming problem. In two dimensions, we show that any such web can be replaced by one in which there are at most P elementary loops, where elementary means that the loop cannot be subdivided into subloops, and where P is the number of forces f 1 ,  f 2 , …,  f N applied at points strictly within the convex hull of x 1 ,  x 2 , …,  x N . In three dimensions, we show that, by slightly perturbing f 1 ,  f 2 , …,  f N , there exists a uniloadable web supporting this loading. Uniloadable means it supports this loading and all positive multiples of it, but not any other loading. Uniloadable webs provide a mechanism for channelling stress in desired ways.


Author(s):  
Yuta Otsuka ◽  
Hirokazu Tsukaya

AbstractOrganisms have a variety of three-dimensional (3D) structures that change over time. These changes include twisting, which is 3D deformation that cannot happen in two dimensions. Twisting is linked to important adaptive functions of organs, such as adjusting the orientation of leaves and flowers in plants to align with environmental stimuli (e.g. light, gravity). Despite its importance, the underlying mechanism for twisting remains to be determined, partly because there is no rigorous method for quantifying the twisting of plant organs. Conventional studies have relied on approximate measurements of the twisting angle in 2D, with arbitrary choices of observation angle. Here, we present the first rigorous quantification of the 3D twisting angles of Arabidopsis petioles based on light sheet microscopy. Mathematical separation of bending and twisting with strict definition of petiole cross-sections were implemented; differences in the spatial distribution of bending and twisting were detected via the quantification of angles along the petiole. Based on the measured values, we discuss that minute degrees of differential growth can result in pronounced twisting in petioles.


1967 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 422-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyozaburo Kambe

A general theory of electron diffraction by crystals is developed. The crystals are assumed to be infinitely extended in two dimensions and finite in the third dimension. For the scattering problem by this structure two-dimensionally expanded forms of GREEN’S function and integral equation are at first derived, and combined in single three-dimensional forms. EWALD’S method is applied to sum up the series for GREEN’S function.


2001 ◽  
Vol 204 (21) ◽  
pp. 3621-3627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Herrel ◽  
Jay J. Meyers ◽  
Peter Aerts ◽  
Kiisa C. Nishikawa

SUMMARYChameleons capture prey items using a ballistic tongue projection mechanism that is unique among lizards. During prey capture, the tongue can be projected up to two full body lengths and may extend up to 600 % of its resting length. Being ambush predators, chameleons eat infrequently and take relatively large prey. The extreme tongue elongation (sixfold) and the need to be able to retract fairly heavy prey at any given distance from the mouth are likely to place constraints on the tongue retractor muscles. The data examined here show that in vivo retractor force production is almost constant for a wide range of projection distances. An examination of muscle physiology and of the ultrastructure of the tongue retractor muscle shows that this is the result (i) of active hyoid retraction, (ii) of large muscle filament overlap at maximal tongue extension and (iii) of the supercontractile properties of the tongue retractor muscles. We suggest that the chameleon tongue retractor muscles may have evolved supercontractile properties to enable a substantial force to be produced over a wide range of tongue projection distances. This enables chameleons successfully to retract even large prey from a variety of distances in their complex three-dimensional habitat.


2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (14) ◽  
pp. 2117-2123 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Kral ◽  
M. Vernik ◽  
D. Devetak

Mantispids (Mantispa styriaca) are predatory insects; on bright sunny days, they wait in ambush for insect prey. The prey is captured as soon as it is within reach by means of lightning-speed strikes with the powerful forelegs. The strikes can take less than 60 ms. The mantispid accomplishes this almost as effectively as the larger praying mantis, which occupies a similar habitat, even though the praying mantis has apposition eyes with a high-resolution fovea, whereas the mantispid has unspecialized optical superposition eyes. Mantispa styriaca reacts to an item of prey when the latter covers a critical visual angle. The detection of prey immediately triggers adjustment reactions in the mantispid, which attempts to position the prey item in the visual field of both eyes and in the capture zone. Irrespective of the size of the prey, the capture reaction of the mantispid is always triggered if the distance to the prey falls below a certain critical value. As indicated by the analysis of individual video frames, immediately before an aimed strike, the item of prey is always positioned exactly in the centre of the binocular field of vision in the extended midsagittal plane of the mantispid's head. The strike may be triggered by the ommatidia of the left and right eyes, the lines of sight of which converge precisely on this region. The principal conclusion to be drawn is that the prey-capture behaviour of the mantispid appears to be based on a triangulation mechanism.


1992 ◽  
Vol 164 (1) ◽  
pp. 227-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. F. LAND ◽  
F. G. BARTH

Much is known about the mechanosensory behaviour of the spider Cupiennius Keyserling, but much less about its visual capabilities. In this study the quality of the optical image, the retinal resolution and the fields of view were assessed for each of the four pairs of eyes. The image is of good quality in all eyes. The principal (antero-median) eyes lack a tapetum and have an inter-receptor angle of 2.9°. The three secondary eyes (antero-lateral, postero-median and posterolateral) all have ‘gridiron’ tapeta with receptors arranged in rows. The angular separations (along rows × between rows) are 3.6° × 9.3°, 0.9° × 2.3° and 1.0° × 3.0°, respectively. Although the disposition of eyes on the head is similar to that of pisaurid spiders, all other features of the eyes, including the sizes and shapes of the fields of view, resemble those of lycosid spiders. The peripheral visual system of Cupiennius can thus, in principle, support a similar range of visual behaviour to that of lycosids, which includes prey capture, predator avoidance and courtship.


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