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Northern fowl mite orientation in a thermal gradient and evidence for idiothetic course control
Author(s) -
Owen Jeb P.,
Mullens Bradley A.,
Justus Kristine A.,
Cardé Ring T.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
physiological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-3032
pISSN - 0307-6962
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3032.2005.00461.x
Subject(s) - biology , acari , mite , displacement (psychology) , angular displacement , temperature gradient , radiant heat , position (finance) , zoology , ecology , materials science , physics , geometry , mathematics , composite material , finance , quantum mechanics , economics , psychotherapist , psychology
. The northern fowl mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum , is an ectoparasite of birds and a poultry pest. The ability of northern fowl mites to orientate to a heat source is investigated with individual mites video‐recorded in two‐dimensional arenas and exposed to spatial or temporal heat gradients. Recorded tracks are digitally analysed for variation in linear velocity, mean direction of movement, and patterns in angular displacement. Mean direction of movement in a spatial gradient is significantly associated with the position of the heat source for 24/29 mites tested ( P < 0.05), whereas most control (no heat) mean bearings are randomly distributed (16/25; P > 0.1). Angular displacement that orientates a mite towards the heat source is positively correlated with the preceding deviation from that direction ( P < 0.01). Angular displacement away from the heat source is random. The temporal heat gradient is such that no spatial reference to the heat source exists within the plane of the arena. Mites in an ambient (27 °C) to heated (30 °C) transition have angular displacement distributions similar to control mites (ambient to ambient transition). However, mites in a heated to ambient transition execute angular displacements approximately 25° greater than mites in the other treatments ( P < 0.03). Mites compare the shift in temperature over time and alter their direction of movement by a programmed (idiothetic) response to a decrease in temperature, rather than through detection of the spatial position of the gradient (allothetic).