An inexpensive setup for robust activity tracking in small animals: Portable Locomotion Activity Monitor (pLAM)

Advances in computer vision and deep learning have automated animal behaviour studies that previously required tedious manual input. However, tracking activity of small and fast flying animals remains a hurdle, especially in a field setting with variable light conditions. Commercial locomotor activity monitors (LAMs) can be expensive, closed source, and generally limited to laboratory settings.Here, we present a portable locomotion activity monitor (pLAM), a mobile activity detector to quantify small animal circadian activity. Our setup uses inexpensive components, is based on open-source motion tracking software, and is easy to assemble and use in the field. It runs off-grid, supports low-light tracking with infrared lights, and can implement arbitrary light cycle colours and brightnesses with programmable LEDs. We provide a user-friendly guide to assembling pLAM hardware and accessing its pre-configured software and guidelines for using it in other systems.We benchmarked pLAM for insects under various lab and field conditions, then compared results to a commercial activity detector. They offer broadly similar activity measures, but our setup captures flight and bouts of motion that are often missed by beam-breaking activity detection.pLAM will enable high-throughput quantification of small animal location and activity in a low-cost and accessible manner, crucial to studying behaviour that can help inform conservation and management decisions.

Role of Commensal Microbes in the γ-Ray Irradiation-Induced Physiological Changes in Drosophila melanogaster

Ionizing radiation induces biological/physiological changes and affects commensal microbes, but few studies have examined the relationship between the physiological changes induced by irradiation and commensal microbes. This study investigated the role of commensal microbes in the γ-ray irradiation-induced physiological changes in Drosophila melanogaster. The bacterial load was increased in 5 Gy irradiated flies, but irradiation decreased the number of operational taxonomic units. The mean lifespan of conventional flies showed no significant change by irradiation, whereas that of axenic flies was negatively correlated with the radiation dose. γ-Ray irradiation did not change the average number of eggs in both conventional and axenic flies. Locomotion of conventional flies was decreased after 5 Gy radiation exposure, whereas no significant change in locomotion activity was detected in axenic flies after irradiation. γ-Ray irradiation increased the generation of reactive oxygen species in both conventional and axenic flies, but the increase was higher in axenic flies. Similarly, the amounts of mitochondria were increased in irradiated axenic flies but not in conventional flies. These results suggest that axenic flies are more sensitive in their mitochondrial responses to radiation than conventional flies, and increased sensitivity leads to a reduced lifespan and other physiological changes in axenic flies.

Effects of particulate matter under behavioral, hematological and biochemical parameters in Wistar rats

El Material Particulado (MP) puede alterar los procesos cognitivos, el comportamiento depresivo y hematológico en el modelo animal. El objetivo fue evaluar los efectos causados por MP en los parámetros conductuales, hematológicos y bioquímicos en un modelo animal. Se observaron alteraciones en la actividad locomotora de las ratas, donde hubo una disminución significativa en la locomoción del Grupo 3 (MP10) en comparación con los Grupo 1 (Control) y Grupo 2 (MP2,5). Con respecto al comportamiento de ansiedad, el Grupo 3 pasó significativamente más tiempo en brazos abiertos en comparación con el control y MP2,5. No se observaron cambios hematológicos y bioquímicos. En este estudio, se concluye que, la exposición a la MP puede causar daño neurológico y, en consecuencia, afectar a otros sistemas. Particulate matter (PM) can alter the cognitive processes, the depressive behavior, and the hematological profile in animals. This study aimed to evaluate the effects on behavioral, hematological, and biochemical parameters caused by PM in an animal model. A significant decrease in the locomotion activity of Group 3 (PM10) in relation to Group 1 (Control) and Group 2 (PM2.5) was observed. Regarding the anxiety behavior, Group 3 remained significantly the most part of the time in the open arms when compared to the control and PM2.5 groups. No hematological or biochemical alterations were observed among groups. In this study, we concluded that the exposure to particulate matter can cause neurological damages, and consequently, affect other systems.