Free mechanosensory neuromasts of larval fishes have been described as playing a complementary role to vision in feeding behaviour (Disler, 1971; Iwai, 1972a,b). In certain species or under limited conditions, free neuromasts play a major role in detecting prey. The larvae of mottled sculpin Cottus bairdi can feed on Artemia in the dark by using free neuromasts (Jones and Janssen, 1992). Artificially blinded surface-feeding Aplocheilus lineatus can detect insects on the water surface by means of free neuromasts (Muller and Schwarts, 1982; Tittel et al. 1984; Bleckmann, 1988; Bleckmann et al. 1989). Furthermore, vibrations produced by swimming crustaceans are known to be a potent natural stimulus for the lateral line system in the Antarctic fish Pagothenia borchgrevinki (Montgomery and Macdonald, 1987; Montgomery, 1989). We found that larvae of a plankton feeder, the willow shiner Gnathopogon elongatus caerulescens (Sauvage) (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), fed on nauplii of Artemia in complete darkness. Ototoxic compounds, such as streptomycin, have been shown to disturb the function of the lateral line organ or free neuromasts (Kaus, 1987; Blaxter and Fuiman, 1989; Janssen, 1990; Jones and Janssen, 1992). Willow shiner larvae treated with streptomycin sulphate no longer feed on Artemia in the dark (Y. Mukai, in preparation). The willow shiner inhabits calm lakes and feeds on zooplanktonic prey (Nakamura, 1949). The larvae show a high sensitivity to minute water displacements. From these observations and from our findings, it appears that larval willow shiner must feed on zooplankton by using free neuromasts in the dark. In larval willow shiner, the vane-like cupulae of the free neuromasts protrude from the body surface and the long cupulae are 100-250 microm in length (Mukai and Kobayashi, 1991). The prey is detected by the free neuromasts as a result of a slight bending of the cupula in response to local water movements. The shape of the cupula, especially its length, must therefore be related to the sensitivity of the free neuromast, as inferred from the results of Coombs and Janssen (1989) and van Netten and Kroese (1989).
In the field: an interview with Harald Wolf
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In our new Conversation, Harald Wolf talks about his fieldwork experiences working with desert ants in Tunisia to understand their navigation.
Propose a new Workshop
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Our Workshops bring together leading experts and early-career researchers from a range of scientific backgrounds. Applications are now open to propose Workshops for 2024, one of which will be held in a Global South country.
Julian Dow steps down and John Terblanche joins the JEB team
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After 15 years with the journal, Julian Dow from University of Glasgow, UK, is stepping down as a Monitoring Editor. We wish Julian all the best for the future and welcome John Terblanche, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, who is joining the team. Julian talks about his long association with The Company of Biologists and the journal and John tells us about his life and career in this News article.
An accelerometer-derived ballistocardiogram method for detecting heart rate in free-ranging marine mammals
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Max Czapanskiy and co show how the resting heart rates of blue whales are immortalized in the accelerometry traces collected by motion sensing data tags.
Global change and physiological challenges for Amazonian fish
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In their Review, Adalberto Luis Val and Chris Wood discuss the physiological threats to the unique and diverse fish fauna of Amazonia.
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