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A Method Of Detecting Reaction To Environmental Influence By Recording Circadian Activity, Using The Flagfish Jordanella Floridae, Robert Matsuo Kano

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This paper investigates a means of detecting the reaction of aquatic vertebrates to environmental change by recording behavioral patterns within the diurnal activity. An apparatus measuring the activity of Jordanella floridae, Goode and Bean, using a photoelectric sensor system is described. Individual sensors monitored specific areas of the test aquarium that had special significance to the fish in the way of a particular behavioral category. An event recorder documented the breakage of light beams, giving continuous and accurately timed data of activity. Two distinct patterns of activity were recognized; a control, or typical, pattern, and a pattern resulting from the …