| Description |
The nematode ( Caenorhabditis elegans ) is a simple model organism for a variety of fields in biology. The genetics, cell biology, and neurobiology of this organism have all been studied in great detail, but little work has been done on its ecology. In this project, I analyzed mathematical models of two ecologically important behaviors of the nematode: foraging and egg-laying. Nematodes must move between resource patches in order to maximize their success at foraging or egg-laying. I have developed three mathematical models to illustrate the various strategies for foraging and egg laying, focusing on solving for the optimal time to leave a resource patch? The results of mathematical analysis are striking. First, nematodes which leave patches at a constant rate should modify their behavior differently from those that leave at a constant time. Second, the behavior should depend strongly on stage of life of the nematode. A nematode in a larval stage will maximize foraging activity and leave more rapidly from crowded patches, but an adult nematode will try to compete for maximum success in egg laying and will stay longer in crowded patches. The assumptions in the model are based on preliminary laboratory studies of nematode behavior. The mathematical models create a series of focused hypotheses that can be used in future studies that may help to bridge the gap between the behavioral and physiological study of this organism. |
