High speed video of anuran larval behaviour

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Tadpoles, as simple as they appear, have remarkably complex behaviours. They have, for example, turning biases, which means that they turn significantly more often to one side than the other when scared or when diving after having come up to the surface for a gulp of air. However, some species prefer to turn to the left and some to the right. Why different species have such preferences is not known. A major part of my research is directed at understanding the adaptive significance of such "handedness" in tadpoles. I would like to know why tadpoles have the specific handedness that they do, and whether their handedness can be predicted from their ecology, brain anatomy, and evolutionary relationships.   Tadpoles also have elaborate external mouthparts with which they can sense, grasp, and then rapidly tear apart algal films, which are then drawn into their mouths for food. Thus, in addition to studying handedness in tadpoles, I would also like to know how tadpoles with unusual mouthparts use them in real life.   The processes that interest me occur very quickly. Some tadpoles, for example, can turn 180° in less than 100 ms and take about the same amount of time to open and close their mouths that you and I take to blink. To observe and study such processes, one needs a high-speed video camera. I am seeking NSERC funds for just such a camera.   To study the behaviour and biomechanics of a diversity of tadpoles I need to go places with a greater variety of frog fauna than occurs in Canada. To study the natural behaviours of healthy tadpoles I need to do field studies with tadpoles that have not been kept for a long time in the laboratory. I am therefore requesting funds for a high-speed video camera that is portable, compact, rugged, and that can be easily used in the field.