Visual control of steering in the box jellyfish Tripedalia cystophora.
Author
Summary, in English
Box jellyfish carry an elaborate visual system consisting of 24 eyes, which they use for driving a number of behaviours. However, it is not known how visual input controls the swimming behaviour. In this study we exposed the Caribbean box jellyfish Tripedalia cystophora to simple visual stimuli and recorded changes in their swimming behaviour. Animals were tethered in a small experimental chamber, where we could control lighting conditions. The behaviour of the animals was quantified by tracking the movements of the bell, using a high-speed camera. We found that the animals respond predictably to the darkening of one quadrant of the equatorial visual world by (1) increasing pulse frequency, (2) creating an asymmetry in the structure that constricts the outflow opening of the bell, the velarium, and (3) delaying contraction at one of the four sides of the bell. This causes the animals to orient their bell in such a way that, if not tethered, they would turn and swim away from the dark area. We conclude that the visual system of T. cystophora has a predictable effect on swimming behaviour.
Department/s
Publishing year
2011
Language
English
Pages
2809-2815
Publication/Series
Journal of Experimental Biology
Volume
214
Issue
Pt 17
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
The Company of Biologists Ltd
Topic
- Zoology
Status
Published
Research group
- Lund Vision Group
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1477-9145