Dataset Information

Properties of the Visible Light Phototaxis and UV Avoidance Behaviors in the Larval Zebrafish.

ABSTRACT: For many organisms, color is an essential source of information from visual scenes. The larval zebrafish has the potential to be a model for the study of this topic, given its tetrachromatic retina and high dependence on vision. In this study we took a step toward understanding how the larval zebrafish might use color sensing. To this end, we used a projector-based paradigm to force a choice of a color stimulus at every turn of the larva. The stimuli used spanned most of the larval spectral range, including activation of its Ultraviolet (UV) cone, which has not been described behaviorally before. We found that zebrafish larvae swim toward visible wavelengths (>400 nm) when choosing between them and darkness, as has been reported with white light. However, when presented with UV light and darkness zebrafish show an intensity dependent avoidance behavior. This UV avoidance does not interact cooperatively with phototaxis toward longer wavelengths, but can compete against it in an intensity dependent manner. Finally, we show that the avoidance behavior depends on the presence of eyes with functional UV cones. These findings open future avenues for studying the neural circuits that underlie color sensing in the larval zebrafish.

SUBMITTER: Guggiana-Nilo DA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4990545 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Properties of the Visible Light Phototaxis and UV Avoidance Behaviors in the Larval Zebrafish.

Guggiana-Nilo Drago A DA Engert Florian F

Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience 20160819

For many organisms, color is an essential source of information from visual scenes. The larval zebrafish has the potential to be a model for the study of this topic, given its tetrachromatic retina and high dependence on vision. In this study we took a step toward understanding how the larval zebrafish might use color sensing. To this end, we used a projector-based paradigm to force a choice of a color stimulus at every turn of the larva. The stimuli used spanned most of the larval spectral rang ...[more]

PMID: 27594828

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Project description:Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) were chosen as a model system to investigate photocatalytic abilities of heterojunction system under UV and visible light conditions. The use of g-C₃N₄ has been shown to be effective in the reduction in recombination through the interaction between the two interfaces of TiO₂ and g-C₃N₄. A simple method of preparing g-C₃N₄ through the pyrolysis of melamine was employed, which was then added to undoped TiO₂ material to form the g-C₃N₄-TiO₂ system. These materials were then fully characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET), and various spectroscopic techniques including Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), diffuse absorbance, and photoluminescence analysis. Photocatalysis studies were conducted using the model dye, rhodamine 6G utilizing visible and UV light irradiation. Raman spectroscopy confirmed that a composite of the materials was formed as opposed to a mixture of the two. Using XPS analysis, a shift in the nitrogen peak to that indicative of substitutional nitrogen was detected for all doped samples. This is then mirrored in the diffuse absorbance results, which show a clear decrease in band gap values for these samples, showing the effective band gap alteration achieved through this preparation process. When g-C₃N₄-TiO₂ samples were analyzed under visible light irradiation, no significant improvement was observed compared that of pure TiO₂. However, under UV light irradiation conditions, the photocatalytic ability of the doped samples exhibited an increased reactivity when compared to the undoped TiO₂ (0.130 min-1), with 4% g-C₃N₄-TiO₂ (0.187 min-1), showing a 43.9% increase in reactivity. Further doping to 8% g-C₃N₄-TiO₂ lead to a decrease in reactivity against rhodamine 6G. BET analysis determined that the surface area of the 4% and 8% g-C₃N₄-TiO₂ samples were very similar, with values of 29.4 and 28.5 m²/g, respectively, suggesting that the actual surface area is not a contributing factor. This could be due to an overloading of the system with covering of the active sites resulting in a lower reaction rate. XPS analysis showed that surface hydroxyl radicals and oxygen vacancies are not being formed throughout this preparation. Therefore, it can be suggested that the increased photocatalytic reaction rates are due to successful interfacial interactions with the g-C₃N₄-doped TiO₂ systems.

Project description:Small sea urchins Strongylocentrotus intermedius (1-2 cm of test diameter) are exposed to different environments of light intensities after being reseeded to the sea bottom. With little information available about the behavioral responses of S. intermedius to different light intensities in the environment, we carried out an investigation on how S. intermedius is affected by three light intensity environments in terms of phototaxis, foraging and righting behaviors. They were no light (zero lx), low light intensity (24-209 lx) and high light intensity (252-2,280 lx). Light intensity had obvious different effects on phototaxis. In low light intensity, sea urchins moved more and spent significantly more time at the higher intensity (69-209 lx) (P = 0.046). S. intermedius in high light intensity, in contrast, spent significantly more time at lower intensity (252-690 lx) (P = 0.005). Unexpectedly, no significant difference of movement (average velocity and total distance covered) was found among the three light intensities (P > 0.05). Foraging behavior of S. intermedius was significantly different among the light intensities. In the no light environment, only three of ten S. intermedius found food within 7 min. In low light intensity, nine of 10 sea urchins showed successful foraging behavior to the food placed at 209 lx, which was significantly higher than the ratio of the number (two of 10) when food was placed at 24 lx (P = 0.005). In the high light intensity, in contrast, significantly less sea urchins (three of 10) found food placed at the higher light intensity (2,280 lx) compared with the lower light intensity (252 lx) (10/10, P = 0.003). Furthermore, S. intermedius showed significantly longer righting response time in the high light intensity compared with both no light (P = 0.001) and low light intensity (P = 0.031). No significant difference was found in righting behavior between no light and low light intensity (P = 0.892). The present study indicates that light intensity significantly affects phototaxis, foraging and righting behaviors of S. intermedius and that ~200 lx might be the appropriate light intensity for reseeding small S. intermedius.

Dataset Information

Properties of the Visible Light Phototaxis and UV Avoidance Behaviors in the Larval Zebrafish.

Publications

Properties of the Visible Light Phototaxis and UV Avoidance Behaviors in the Larval Zebrafish.

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