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A semi-automatic computerized analysis of tracks of ciliates

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Summary

The behavior of Protozoa can be studied by using the ethogram as a conceptual tool capable of giving an almost complete picture of the motor biology of these microorganisms. A new semi-automatic, computerized method for drawing ethograms is described here: it allows a time-saving of about 70%, in comparison with the similar manual procedure. Microorganism movements are photographed by a Pentax LX camera from the screen of a TV monitor, connected to the stereomicroscope by a TV camera, and resolved into single images using a stroboscopic apparatus. The pictorial data are introduced into the computer by means of a digitizing tablet, and the track analysis is performed semi-automatically. The measurements recorded are then processed using a commercial statistics package in order to obtain a general view of the quantitative parameters of each ethogram.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Zoology, via A. Volta 4, I-56100, Pisa, Italy

    A. Russo & N. Ricci

  2. Institute of Biophysics, CNR, via S. Lorenzo 26, I56100, Pisa, Italy

    P. Gualtieri

Authors
  1. A. Russo
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  2. P. Gualtieri
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  3. N. Ricci
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Russo, A., Gualtieri, P. & Ricci, N. A semi-automatic computerized analysis of tracks of ciliates. Experientia 44, 277–280 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01941739

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01941739

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