Turbellarian taxonomic database

Record # 23276
Author
Title
Journal
Martinez O, Sire S, Saunier A, Malgouyres J-M, Fournier A, Vignet C (2021)
Behavioral responses of three freshwater planaria species to light, visual and olfactory stimuli: Setting the stage for further ecotoxicological studies.
Behavioural Processes 183: 104295

Abstract / Notes

"Planarians are freshwater flatworms commonly used as environmental bioindicator due to their sensitivity of
response and their ease of culturing in lab. Nevertheless, to date, very few studies describing their behavior
have been led. This work aims to fill the literature gap by providing preliminary results through six
behavioral challenges (locomotion, exploration, light stress, planarian light/dark test, shoaling and
foraging) conducted with three different species Dugesia tigrina, Schmidtea mediterranea and Schmidtea
polychroa. The behavioral responses of every species in each of these six assays were recorded and differences
between species were highlighted, depending on the assays and conditions. Schmidtea polychroa is less active
than the two others and had the highest light aversion. Reactions observed in response to diverse and
realistic stimuli helped us to select the most suitable tests and choose the species that seem the most
appropriate for future ecotoxicological and neurophysiological tests. Four tests - out of the six testedseem
reliable in order to standardize planarian behavioral tests."

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