A5082207907- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Motor Control and Adaptation
- Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Plant and animal studies
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Sports Performance and Training
- Biomimetic flight and propulsion mechanisms
- Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
- Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Orthoptera Research and Taxonomy
- Crustacean biology and ecology
University of Leicester
2010-2021
University of Cambridge
2000-2014
University of Canterbury
1990-1992
Desert locusts show an extreme form of phenotypic plasticity, changing between a cryptic solitarious phase and swarming gregarious that differ in many aspects behaviour, physiology appearance. Solitarious rapid behavioural change response to tactile stimulation directed the hind femora. Repeatedly touching as little one quarter anterior (outer) surface area femur produced full gregarization within 4 h. have approximately 30% more mechanosensory trichoid sensilla on femora than do but similar...
SUMMARY Desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) can undergo a profound transformation between solitarious and gregarious forms, which involves widespread changes in behaviour, physiology morphology. This phase change is triggered by the presence or absence of other occurs over timescale ranging from hours, for some behaviours to change, generations,for full morphological transformation. The neuro-hormonal mechanisms that drive accompany either direction remain unknown. We have used...
<ns3:p><ns3:bold>Background</ns3:bold>: At the time of publication, most devastating desert locust crisis in decades is affecting East Africa, Arabian Peninsula and South-West Asia. The situation extremely alarming where Kenya, Ethiopia Somalia face an unprecedented threat to food security livelihoods. Most time, however, locusts do not occur swarms, but live as relatively harmless solitary insects. phenotypically distinct solitarious gregarious phases differ markedly many aspects behaviour,...
<ns3:p><ns3:bold>Background</ns3:bold>: At the time of publication, most devastating desert locust crisis in decades is affecting East Africa, Arabian Peninsula and South-West Asia. The situation extremely alarming where Kenya, Ethiopia Somalia face an unprecedented threat to food security livelihoods. Most time, however, locusts do not occur swarms, but live as relatively harmless solitary insects. phenotypically distinct solitarious gregarious phases differ markedly many aspects behaviour,...
The chordotonal organ at the femorotibial joint of a locust hind leg monitors extension and flexion movements tibia. During evoked or imposed this central terminals afferent neurons from receive depolarizing, inhibitory synaptic inputs. spikes are therefore superimposed on these depolarizing IPSPs, which generated indirectly by other afferents same that respond to movement. Each preferentially particular features movement, its input is typically greatest position during movement generates...
Desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) show an extreme form of phenotypic plasticity and can transform between a cryptic solitarious phase swarming gregarious phase. The two phases differ extensively in behavior, morphology physiology but very little is known about the molecular basis these differences. We used our recently generated Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) database derived from S. gregaria central nervous system (CNS) to design oligonucleotide microarrays compare expression thousands...
Limb movements are generally driven by active muscular contractions working with and against passive forces arising in muscles other structures. In relatively heavy limbs, the effects of gravity inertia predominate, whereas lighter intrinsic to limb greater consequence. The roles generated tendons well understood, but there has been little recognition that originating within joints themselves may also be important, less still these joint adapted through evolution complement muscle acting at...
We demonstrate pronounced differences in the visual system of a polyphenic locust species that can change reversibly between two forms (phases), which vary morphology and behavior. At low population densities, individuals Schistocerca gregaria develop into solitarious phase, are cryptic, tend to avoid other locusts. high instead swarm-forming gregarious phase. analyzed both phases responses an identified interneuron, descending contralateral movement detector (DCMD), responds approaching...
Relatively little is still known about the sense of taste, or contact chemoreception, compared with other sensory modalities, despite its importance to many aspects animal behaviour. The central projections neurons from bimodal chemoreceptors (basiconic sensilla) were those mechanosensory tactile hairs located on similar regions middle leg locust. Basiconic sensilla are multiply innervated, containing one and several chemosensory neurons, whereas innervated by a single neuron. We show that...
ABSTRACT A multineuronal proprioceptor, the femoral chordotonal organ (feCO), monitors position and movements of tibia an insect leg. Superfusing locust metathoracic feCO with neuromodulator octopamine, or octopamine agonist synephrine, affects (tonic) component organ’s response, but not movement (phasic) component. Both synephrine act same threshold (10−6 mol l−1). Individual sensory neurones that respond tonically at flexed tibial angles show increased tonic spike activity following...
ABSTRACT A locust placed upside down on a flat surface uses predictable sequence of leg movements to right itself. To analyse this behaviour, we made use naturally occurring state quiescence (thanatosis) position locusts in standardised upside-down from which they spontaneously themselves. Locusts grasped around the pronotum enter thanatosis during limbs can be manipulated into particular postures, where remain, and animal ground. When released, lasts 4–456 s (mean 73 s) before suddenly...
Desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) can transform reversibly between the swarming gregarious phase and a solitarious phase, which avoids other locusts. This transformation entails dramatic changes in morphology, physiology, behavior. We have used lobula giant movement detector (LGMD) its postsynaptic target, descending contralateral (DCMD), are visual interneurons that detect looming objects, to analyze how differences ecology of two phases served by altered neuronal function. Solitarious...
Insect auditory receivers provide an excellent comparative resource to understand general principles of transduction, but analysis the electrophysiological properties neurons has been hampered by their tiny size and inaccessibility. Here we pioneer patch-clamp recordings from Müller's organ desert locust Schistocerca gregaria characterize dendritic spikes, axonal transduction current. We demonstrate that elicited sound stimuli, trigger both types are sodium voltage dependent blocked TTX....
ABSTRACT Intact locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) respond to tactile stimulation of their folded wings with rhythmic scratching movements the ipsilateral hindleg that are directed towards site stimulation. For example, sites near base a wing elicit anteriorly scratches, whereas distal end posteriorly scratches. Locusts also scratch in response is held outstretched posture similar normally adopted during flight, but they fail alter leg targeting compensate for this changed position stimulus...
Vertebrates and arthropods are both capable of load compensation during aimed limb movements, such as reaching grooming. We measured the kinematics activity individual motoneurons in loaded unloaded leg movements an insect. To evaluate role active passive musculoskeletal properties aiming compensation, we used a neuromechanical model femur–tibia joint that transformed extensor flexor motoneuron spikes into kinematics. The comprises three steps: first, activation dynamics module determines...
SUMMARY To determine whether neuronal function in Antarctic crustaceans is adapted to the low and narrow range of temperatures at which these animals live, we have compared conduction velocities peripheral nervous systems two temperate species, decapod Carcinus maenas isopod Ligia oceanica, Glyptonotus antarcticus amphipod Paraceradocus gibber. Neuronal velocity differs among species order C. &gt; G. P. gibber L. oceanica. When measured normal environmental characteristic each peracarid...