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MicroPubl Biol
2023 Jan 01;2023. doi: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000750.
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Albino Xenopus laevis tadpoles prefer dark environments compared to wild type.
Adebogun GT
,
Bachmann AE
,
Callan AA
,
Khan U
,
Lewis AR
,
Pollock AC
,
Alfonso SA
,
Arango Sumano D
,
Bhatt DA
,
Cullen AB
,
Hajian CM
,
Huang W
,
Jaeger EL
,
Li E
,
Maske AK
,
Offenberg EG
,
Ta V
,
Whiting WW
,
McKinney JE
,
Butler J
,
O'Connell LA
.
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Tadpoles display preferences for different environments but the sensory modalities that govern these choices are not well understood. Here, we examined light preferences and associated sensory mechanisms of albino and wild-type Xenopus laevis tadpoles. We found that albino tadpoles spent more time in darker environments compared to the wild type, although they showed no differences in overall activity. This preference persisted when the tadpoles had their optic nerve severed or pineal glands removed, suggesting these sensory systems alone are not necessary for phototaxis. These experiments were conducted by an undergraduate laboratory course, highlighting how X. laevis tadpole behavior assays in a classroom setting can reveal new insights into animal behavior.
Figure 1. Albino Xenopus laevis tadpoles prefer darker environments compared to the wild type independent of eyes or pineal gland:
(A) Tadpole preferences for dark or light environments were tested in a simple chamber made of two petri dishes. The time spent on the dark side was recorded for three minutes before and after the outer chamber was rotated. (B) Albino tadpoles (white) spent more time in the darker environment compared to wild-type tadpoles (brown) (ANOVA, F(1) = 8.124, p = 0.007). (C) The total number of movements did not differ between groups. (D) Tadpole environmental preferences remained consistent despite being blind, having their pineal gland removed, or experiencing a control sham operation (2-way ANOVA, pigmentation group: F(1) = 16.448, p < 0.001; sensory treatment and their interaction was not significant). (E) The total number of movements did not differ between pigmentation groups nor sensory treatments.
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