CAREER: The Sensory Biomechanics of the Lateral Line System

鱼有一种非凡的能力，通过皮肤内的感受器感知水流来探测捕食者的攻击。该研究项目的主要目的是了解斑马鱼幼虫（Danio rerio）的这种感觉系统（称为侧线）的机制。这将通过使用数学建模、行为实验和为航空工程开发的流动可视化技术的新颖组合来实现。这些方法将考虑身体的形状和刺激的方向如何影响鱼逃避捕食者的能力。拟议的研究将在两个主要领域推进理解。首先，这项工作将建立一个感官系统的机制，这是至关重要的生态学的广泛多样性的水生动物。第二，这项工作将定义神经科学的主要模型系统中机械感觉输入和行为输出之间的关系。这将使我们了解脊椎动物的行为如何受到机械感觉信息整合的影响。这一研究项目还将涉及外联和教育。研究人员提出了一个新的K-12教育计划与当地学校和加州大学合作。欧文教育部。PI和他的学生还将参加加州大学的一些外展项目。欧文，旨在加强少数民族研究人员的参与和教育，以服务不足的当地学校。

Fish have a remarkable ability to detect the strike of a predator by sensing water flow with receptors within the skin. The major aim of this research project is to understand the mechanics of this sensory system, known as the lateral line, in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio). This will be achieved by using a novel combination of mathematical modeling, behavioral experiments, and flow visualization techniques developed for aeronautical engineering. These approaches will consider how the shape of the body and the direction of a stimulus influence the ability of a fish to evade a predator. The proposed research will advance understanding in two major areas. First, this work will establish the mechanics of a sensory system that is critical to the ecology of a broad diversity of aquatic animals. Second, this work will define relationships between mechanosensory inputs and behavioral outputs in a major model system for neuroscience. This will inform our understanding of how vertebrate behavior is affected by the integration of mechanosensory information. This research project will also involve outreach and education. The investigators propose a novel K-12 educational program in collaboration with local schools and the U.C. Irvine Department of Education. The PI and his students will also participate in a number of outreach programs at U.C. Irvine that are designed to enhance involvement of minority researchers and education to underserved local schools.