Berlin 2024 – scientific programme

Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help

BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 8: Poster Session Ia

BP 8.30: Poster

Monday, March 18, 2024, 18:00–20:30, Poster C

The effect of aversive external conditions on the migration of small plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum — •Diana Lenski, Lucas Tröger, and Karen Alim — School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Germany

Environmental conditions determine the behavior of living organisms: physical activities as well as internal processes can vary significantly in response to certain interventions in an organism’s environment. In a favorable environment, the migration behavior of small plasmodia of the unicellular slime mold, Physarum polycephalum, shows a self-avoiding run-and-tumble movement. However, it is not yet clear if and how P. polycephalum adapts its migration behavior to aversive external conditions. In this study, we perform migration experiments under various aversive stimuli, in particular differently composed substrates - containing salts or altered pH - and substrates exposed to blue light. Statistical analysis of the cell trajectories and simulations based on data inferred parameters will lead to a deeper understanding of the central migration parameters that are adapted with respect to the environment in order to achieve a most efficient migration.

Keywords: slime molds; migration; adaption