Journal of Mathematical Biology

, Volume 30, Issue 1, pp 63–72 | Cite as

Simultaneous tracking of flagellates in real time by image analysis

  • Donat-P. Häder
  • Kurt Vogel
Article
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Revised:

Abstract

The hardware and software components are described to track many flagellates simultaneously in real time. The technique is based on on-line digitization of four frames taken at 80 ms intervals and stored in a specialized video memory. The outline and position of each organism are determined by chain coding and followed through the recorded series of images. The movement vectors of all organisms tracked are stored in the form of deviation angles from a predefined stimulus (light or gravity) direction and the distance each organism has moved in the time interval determined by the hardware clock of the computer. Subsequent programs allow one to determine circular histograms of movement directions and velocities in dependence of the movement direction. Examples of several orientation patterns are given for both photoorientation and gravitaxis in the dinoflagellate, Peridinium gatunense.

Key words

Chain coding Gravitaxis Image analysis Peridinium gatunense Phototaxis Velocity 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1991

Authors and Affiliations

  • Donat-P. Häder
    • 1
  • Kurt Vogel
    • 1
  1. 1.Institut für Botanik und Pharmazeutische Biologie der Friedrich-Alexander-UniversitätErlangenFederal Republic of Germany

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