ElectroReception Calvin Laverick Why the Power Point Calvin

Electro-Reception Calvin Laverick

Why the Power. Point Calvin? • First seen in S 1 E 1 of “Inside the animal mind”. – http: //www. bbc. co. uk/programmes/b 03 thwhf

Definition • Electro reception is the biological ability to perceive natural electrical stimuli.

What animals can use it? • It has been observed almost exclusively in aquatic or amphibious animals. – These include sharks. – It is thought that this is because water is a much better conductor of electricity than air. • A list of known animals can be found here.

• It was thought that electroreception is only found in vertebrates. – However, new research shows that bees can detect the presence and pattern or a static charge on flowers. • The organs needed for electroreception is thought to derive from the Mechanosensory system.

• In most groups of animals electroreception is passive. – This means not under direct mental control. – This is thought to be because it is used in predation. • Predation meaning predatory activities. • An exception to this rule can be found here.

How is it used? • There are 3 main types of use for electroreception: – Electrolocation • Active and passive. – Electrocommunication – Sensory mechanism: • Hence it’s allowance into the Mechanosensory system.

Active Electrolocation • This is when the animal generates electrical fields around itself: – This is by using electroreceptor organs. • It then detects distortions. – A phenomenon known as Jamming Avoidance response can be found here.

Passive Electrolocation • In this process the animal simply detect weak bioelectric fields given off by other animals and uses them to locate the animal. – This bioelectric field is given off by all animals due to the activity of their nerves and muscles. – A second source of this field can be found due to Osmoregulation in ion pumps in the gill membrane.

Electrocommunication • Weakly electric fish can communicate by modulating the electrical waveform they generate. – This is often used for mate attraction and territorial displays.

Sensory Mechanisms • A loose plug of epithelial cells which capacitively couples the sensory receptor cells to the external environment. – This means that they can detect electric communication signals of other fish.

Primary Example • Sharks and rays have organs known as the ampullae of Lorenzini. – These consist of electroreceptor cells connected to the seawater by pores on their snouts and other zones of the head. • It is thought that this is used by sharks to detect the worlds magnetic field and navigate the earth.

Other examples • Electric eel: – Used for attack, navigation and prey detection. • Monotremes: – These include the platypus. • Bees: – They detect a positive static charge while flying through the air.

Effects On Wildlife • An unusual effect is that electromagnetic fields generated by pylons and masts have adverse effects on wildlife.

Sources • http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Electroreception • http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Mechanosensory • http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Jamming_avoida nce_response