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arXiv · 1210.3650

Straight-line and turning locomotion of Paramecia

Saikat Jana·Matthew Giarra·Pavlos Vlachos·Sunghwan Jung
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Abstract

In this fluid dynamics video we investigate the flow field around straight-line swimming and right and left turning Paramecia using micro- particle image velocimetry (μPIV). A Paramecium controls its ciliary beating to produce different fluid velocities on either side of its body. This phenomenon is visualized by applying μPIV to images in which Paramecia swim in a dilute suspension of 1 μm polystyrene spheres. Paramecia that swim straight exhibit similar magnitudes of velocity on either side of their bodies. In contrast, right-turning Paramecia exhibit greater magnitudes of velocity on their right sides, while left-turning organisms show the opposite.

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Saikat Jana, Matthew Giarra, Pavlos Vlachos, Sunghwan Jung. 2012-10-12. Straight-line and turning locomotion of Paramecia. https://arxiv.org/abs/1210.3650

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