Workgroup: Ass. Prof., RNDr. Martin Vácha Ph.D.
Keywords
neuroethology, magnetoreception, insects, compass sense, geomagnetic field, magnetic orientation, Mealworm beetle, behavior, Tenebrio molitor, Periplaneta americana.| Head of laboratory: | Ass. Prof. Martin Vácha, Ph.D. |  |
| Office: | 2/206 (Terezy Novákové 64, 621 00 Brno) | |
| e-mail: | vacha@sci.muni.cz | |
| Phone: | 532 146 206 | |
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Goals and Methods:
The question How and why do animals perceive geomagnetic field is one challenging problems of neuroethology. The possibility that the compass sense is of photo-chemical nature and that it may be linked to visual pathway is recently discussed in some animals. Such hypothesis would imply that some animals may see the position of geomagnetic vector. Our work focused on laboratory testing of insect abilities to perceive the magnetic field of the Earth has shown that some aspects of insect magnetoreception are in line with the vision-based compass hypothesis. Our long-term goal is solving still enigmatic function and localisation of magneto-sensory and magnetic information processing structures in insect nervous system. We employ laboratory behavioral assayes based on video tracking of animals in arena or on video-based analysis of spontaneous or learned behavioral reactions to magnetic stimuli.
Lab members
Diploma students Postgradual students- Mgr. Pavel Slabý
- Mgr. Přemysl Bartoš
- Mgr. Kateřina Tomanová
- Mgr. Tereza Půžová
- Mgr. Markéta Kvíčalová
Selected publications
- Vácha M, Půžová T, Drštková D. (2008) Ablation of antennae does not disrupt magnetoreceptive behavioural reaction of the American cockroach to periodically rotated geomagnetic field. Neuroscience Letters 435:103-7.
- Vácha M, Půžová T, Drštková D. (2008) Effect of light wavelength spectrum on magnetic compass orientation in Tenebrio molitor. J Comp Physiol A 194:853-9.
- Vácha M, Drštková D, Půžová T. (2008) Tenebrio beetles use magnetic inclination compass. Naturwissenschaften 95:761-5.
- Vácha M, Puzová T, Kvíčalová M. Radiofrequency magnetic field disrupts magnetoreception in American cockroach. (2009) Journal of Experimental Biology 212:3473-7.
- Vácha M, Kvíčalová M, Půžová T. (2010) American cockroach prefers four cardinal geomagnetic compass positions at rest. Behaviour 147:425-40.
- Válková T, Vácha M. (2012) How do honeybees use their magnetic compass? Can they see the North? Bulletin of Entomological Research. In print.
Links to web sites of related laboratories
- www.physics.uci.edu/~tritz/
- www.biol.vt.edu/faculty/phillips/
- www.unc.edu/depts/geomag/
- www.bio.uni-frankfurt.de/akpoev/
- www.gps.caltech.edu/users/jkirschvink/
- orn-lab.ekol.lu.se/birdmigration
- www.member.uni-oldenburg.de/henrik.mouritsen/
- www.bio2.rwth-aachen.de/users/loesel/html/rudolf.htm
- apendix.bf.jcu.cz/Sauman/sauman/index.html
- fishlarvae.com/e/fishlarvae_gallery.asp?s=427447235687GIH&page=16.52&CNTID=883&type=2
Photo documentation
section: Insect physiology and immunology
section: Immunology
Alena Žákovská, doc, RNDr, Ph.D. - Immunology
Antonín Lojek, doc, RNDr, CSc. - Pathophysiology of free radicals