Two-dimensional gravitactic bioconvection in a protozoan (Tetrahymena pyriformis) culture.
Gravitactic bioconvective patterns created by Tetrahymena pyriformis in a Hele-Shaw apparatus were realized and compared with theoretical results. There were found to be two thresholds for bio-convection development: the first indicates the transition from the diffusion to the steady convection state; the second corresponds to the transition from the steady to the unsteady convection state. The results showed that the Hele-Shaw apparatus may be used as a physical analogy of porous media to study 2D bioconvection, with possible extensions to larger scale biological systems where population growth and distribution are driven by similar bio-physical interactions.
Nguyen-Quang
Tri
T
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 1B1, QC, Canada. tri.nguyen-quang@mcgill.ca
Nguyen
The Hung
TH
Guichard
Frederic
F
Nicolau
Ana
A
Szatmari
George
G
LePalec
Georges
G
Dusser
Martine
M
Lafossee
Josee
J
Bonnet
Jean Louis
JL
Bohatier
Jacques
J
D000818:Animals; D018522:Gravitropism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009068:Movement; D013769:Tetrahymena pyriformis / Q000502:physiology*