Responses to Reflection in Two Invertebrate Species

The present thesis investigates the responses to reflection in both the crayfish Procambarus clarkii and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Responses to reflection in crayfish depend on social status and the current work suggests that learning and memory consolidation are required for these responses to be altered. Crayfish were treated to either massed or spaced training fights prior to reflection testing. The results show that subordinate crayfish treated to spaced training display a response typical of subordinate crayfish but subordinate crayfish treated to massed training exhibit a response typical of dominant crayfish. Fruit flies are shown to be attracted to reflection and responses to reflection are described here for the first time. Responses in fruit flies are shown to be dependent on social status. The frequency of behaviours were altered in isolated flies but not socialized flies. The addition of pheromones cVA and 7,11-HD were used to investigate how the addition of chemical cues altered responses to reflection in fruit flies. Socialized fruit flies treated with cVA exhibited an increase in the frequency of behaviours on both mirrored and clear glass walls, while isolated flies exhibited a decrease. Socialized flies treated with 7,11-HD spent more time on mirrored walls compared to glass walls, whereas the frequency of all behaviours were decreased in isolated flies treated with 7,11-HD.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D. Biological Sciences

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Faculty of Mathematics and Science

Department dc:contributor.department

Department of Biological Sciences

Grantor

Brock University

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• May, Holly

• behaviour
• crayfish
• Drosophila

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10464/7162

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:brocku.scholaris.ca:10464/7162