SKM 2023 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 21: Active Matter III (joint session BP/CPP/DY)

CPP 21.4: Talk

Tuesday, March 28, 2023, 10:15–10:30, TOE 317

Function of Morphodynamics in Foraging Physarum polycephalum — •Lisa Schick¹, Mirna Kramar², and Karen Alim¹ — ¹School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Germany — ²Institute Curie, Paris, France

How network-forming fungi structure and reorganize their network morphology and thereby the carbon flows in the soil is key to understanding climate - yet hidden from us due to the long time scales of network dynamics and the soil itself. Here, the network-forming slime mold Physarum polycephalum serves as a model of network dynamics of a foraging network-forming life. We follow and quantify the network migration velocity and morphology of foraging P. polycephalum. We identify three distinct morphological states characterized by network compactness and density of moving fronts. Estimating the energetic cost of distinct states, we find that morphological variability allows the organism to balance the energetic costs of foraging and search strategy. Our observations allow us to project how resource availability might shift the balance and thereby affect network extension in foraging network-forming organisms.