Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno, CZ-611 37, Kotlarska 2, tel. +420 541 129 498, fax +420 541 211 214

Laboratory of Insect Neuroethology and Sensory Physiology

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News Staff Publications Projects Diploma Theses PhD Study Diploma Topics Teaching Faculty Map University Information System Faculty Website University Website Institute of Biophysics		Mealworm beetle Keywords: Magnetoreception, insects, compass sense, geomagnetic field, magnetic orientation, Tenebrio molitor, Mealworm beetle, behavior, Periplaneta americana   Staff: Martin Vacha, PhD Helena Soukopova, PhD, Bc Dana Drstkova, Bc Tereza Puzova, Katerina Tomanova             Setup for laboratory testing of magnetic orientation behavior - arena and coil system for geomagnetic field rotation       Our goals: Laboratory is focused on indoor testing of insect magnetoreception. We are working on laboratory behavioral assayes that may provide data for consequent neuro- and biophysical analyses. The questions to be answered are: magnetoreception and the impact of light, polar or inclination sensitivity, brain and sensory structures involvement  etc. Our long-term goal is to take a share in solving still enigmatic problem of localisation and function of magneto-sensory and -processing structures.   Experience in Neuroethology abroad: 2002-2003 Fulbright fellowsip, prof. Phillips lab., Virginia Tech Univ, Blacksburg, 10 months 1999 scholarship of the DAAD, prof. Homberg lab., Marburg, 3 months   Selected publications: Vácha M. (2007): Tenebrio beetle pupae show a conditioned behavioural response to pulse rotations of a geomagnetic field. Physiological Entomology. In print. Vacha M. (2006): Laboratory behavioral assay of insect magnetoreception - magnetosensitivity of Periplaneta americana. J.Exp.Biol. 209 (19): 3897-3901. Vacha M, Soukopova H (2004): Magnetic orientation in the mealworm beetle Tenebrio and the effect of light, J.Exp.Biol. 207 (7): 1241-1248.     American cockroach, Periplaneta americama         Links: http://www.physics.uci.edu/~tritz/ http://www.biol.vt.edu/faculty/phillips/ http://www.unc.edu/depts/geomag/ http://www.bio.uni-frankfurt.de/akpoev/ http://www.gps.caltech.edu/users/jkirschvink/ http://orn-lab.ekol.lu.se/birdmigration/orient.html http://www.sbs.auckland.ac.nz/people/staff/walkerm/ http://www.member.uni-oldenburg.de/henrik.mouritsen/ http://www.science.uts.edu.au/des/StaffPages/UrsulaMunro/ursula_munro.html http://people.hws.edu/deutschlander/ http://users.ox.ac.uk/~zool0206/ant.html
top	©  Lev Dolezal, Martin Vacha  2001-2002