title: Dependence of gravitaxis in Paramecium on oxygen.
abstract: Gravitaxis of Paramecium at different oxygen concentrations is analyzed by means of a computer controlled image-analysis system. The gravitactic response depends on the oxygen tension: at low-oxic conditions Paramecium shows a precise negative gravitaxis which changes into a random distribution if the oxygen tension is increased. This response is accompanied at first by an increase in swimming velocity, however, if the cells are left in low-oxic conditions for a prolonged time, the correlation between the degree of orientation and the kinetic response disappears. The results are discussed with respect to the putative graviperception mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Aerospace Medicine, Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Köln, FRG.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hemmersbach-Krause
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Briegleb
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Häder