Physiology and histology of the Cubomedusæ: including Dr. F.S. Conant's notes on the physiology — John Shaqi
Physiology and histology of the Cubomedusæ: including Dr. F.S. Conant's notes on the physiologyBerger, E. W. (Edward William)
Science
Physiology and histology of the Cubomedusæ: including Dr. F.S. Conant's notes on the physiology
Berger, E. W. (Edward William)
Cubomedusae
[Several other experiments of an order similar to those just noted were
tried, with very similar results.]
5. Two buckets stood side by side in the laboratory. One bucket (1) had
more Charybdeas in it than the other bucket (2), and also had more since
brought in (about an hour). The water of one (1) was also more discolored
and with more organic matter (sea weed, etc.). In the laboratory the
animals were active on the surface of both buckets. Placed in the
sunlight on the porch, no breeze, the sun slanting so that one side of
the water in the buckets was bright while the other side was shaded, the
jelly-fish in (1) went mostly to the bottom, while those in (2) seemed
unaffected though some showed a tendency to go to the bottom after a
longer exposure. The experiment with (1) was repeated and it took some
five minutes for them all to go to the bottom. In a few minutes after
replacing them in the laboratory several were active again on the surface.
6. Jar (a) with five large ones stood on my table; they were quite
active. Placed in the sun (no breeze), on the porch, one or two sank
to the bottom at once and the others seemed to slow their activities
somewhat but not very markedly. In a few minutes all were swimming,
apparently more actively than before, in the bright sunlight.
[In other experiments Conant shows that it is not the stimulus of walking
that causes them to swim when carried into the room, for they would not
swim when he walked with them on the porch. Also, he shows how they may
change, some swimming, others not, when left for some time in any one
place.]
7. In a tumbler were two pulsating very vigorously. Placed in the bright
sunlight, very little breeze now and then, they showed no change whatever.
8. Some in a jar were covered with a black coat. The coat was taken off,
and almost immediately they stopped pulsating, or pulsated but feebly,
and sank to the bottom. The coat was put on again with one part near the
bottom of the jar exposed. Almost at once, the animals, which were quite
motionless, pulsating but little, resumed pulsation, which became more
and more vigorous, and quickly swam to the top again. It seems plainly
to be a reaction to light. [Such experiments as this were repeated at
different times with very like results.]
9. A bucket with several bobbing actively on the surface was set out in a
smart shower, and the animals continued bobbing on the surface as before.
I could not see that they made the slightest attempt to go below.
There can be no doubt but that there is an individual difference in
sensitiveness to the reaction of light after darkness. E. g., I just
removed the coat from a dish with four in it; one went to the bottom at
once, another presently, a third remained active at the surface, the
fourth when noticed was on the bottom.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account