光走性を利用したクラゲの行動制御手法の開発

抄録

In this study, the controllability of the behavior of jellyfish was investigated by applying their phototaxis. The displays of jellyfishes are very popular in the aquarium now. If we can control jellyfish, we can make unique amusement system using this technique. We investigated moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) and papuan jellyfish (Mastigias papua). Both species have strong positive orientation phototaxis to the blue light. Therefore, we can control their behavior by gathering them to the irradiated light. We succeeded to control a moon jellyfish to every four corner of the rectangular pool automatically using computer and image processing technique. The swimming performance of jellyfishes, however, are very weak and they need continuous stream to keep them in the middle water. Therefore, if they are in the still water, they soon lie down on the bottom surface. It means that we have to control in the turbulent water and this condition makes the controllability of jellyfish worse.