Other organisms


Many other organisms have been monitored in the Zantiks units, including stickleback, insects and crustacea.

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Stickleback

These fishes are often used as a model to study evolution and ecology. Similar in size to the zebrafish, adult stickleback can be monitored in the Zantiks AD and Zantiks LT.

A stickleback exploring the Zantiks AD tank, set up with the food hopper and 5-choice inserts​.

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Mosquito

Behavioural resilience in mosquitoes poses a significant challenge to malaria control. Consequently, behavioural studies of adult and larval mosquitoes play an important part in understanding resistance in malaria vectors.

Tracking mosquito larvae in the Zantiks MWP unit. The vertical distribution and the distance moved was recorded simultaneously. The response to vibration stimuli was also assessed.

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Ladybirds

Ladybirds (Coccinellidae) in 2x 6 well plates tracked in a Zantiks AD unit

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Trichogramma

These parasitic wasps are extensively used as a natural pest control for cloth and crop / food moths.

Trichogramma in C5, D3 & 5, E3, 8 & 11. Speed up x 10.

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Aphids

Aphids in a choice trial. Captured at 15 frames per second.

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Amphipod

Amphipods have been used for decades as an indicator species for ecosystem health and in ecotoxicology. Automation is proving useful for speeding up classic toxicology assays including the immobility test (EC50s/LC50s) and reproduction assays using the 'amplexing' or pairing behaviour.

Amphipods in 8 x 6-well plates in the Zantiks LT. In this experiment animals were constantly tracked for 4 days to assess the retention of diurnal rhythms.

Male and female amphipod pairing experiment in the Zantiks LT.

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Bladder Snails

Bladder snails (Physella spp.) circadian rhythm of activity & vertical distribution in a 16-cuvette stand

Bladder snails (Physella spp.) activity in a 12-well plate