Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

PC10 Ecological Fluxes: Organisms, Atmospheres, Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers

Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2001

Location: Southwest Hall

Sherman, M, L, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green , USA, msherma@bgnet.bgsu.edu

Moore, P, A, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green , USA, pmoore@bgnet.bgsu.edu

BOUNDARY-LAYER EFFECT ON THE CHEMICAL SIGNAL MOVEMENT ALONG THE BODY OF THE BROWN BULLHEAD

Flow influences the distribution of chemical signals. A boundary layer exists around olfactory appendages and can further influence the movement of a chemical signal as it approaches receptor cells. Our goal is to quantify how morphology and flow interact to influence the movement of a chemical signal along an organism’s body. This research is critical for understanding the interaction between hydrodynamics and sensory biology. Brown bullheads have taste buds along their body that are used to extract information from chemicals that mediate a variety of behaviors. The chemical signal was measured using the IVEC 10 on a brown bullhead model. Several signal parameters that are indicative of information were analyzed. Differences in signal parameters were found along the body and at different flows. Results show that the presence of the model, flow, and area on the model affects the chemical signal properties, thus influencing the type of information a bullhead can perceive. There is an interaction occurring between flow and the model indicating that body morphology affects signal attributes and acts as a sensory filter.

Return to This Session's Schedule · Complete Session Listing ·

Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

Quicklinks