Abstract
We are conducting research on how Bdelloid rotifers transport objects by utilizing their positive phototaxis and their habit of gathering and attaching themselves to underwater objects. When rotifer attach to objects in the water, they use their toes to anchor themselves to the object. Bdelloid rotifers respond to blue and white LED lights, but not red and yellow. When we experimented with different materials to which rotifers attach, we found that rotifers attached to aluminum, stainless steel, styrene resin, nylon resin, and polyethylene resin. In addition, in a color-based adhesion experiment, we conducted experiments with black, white, blue, yellow, and red styrene resin, and all colors adhered. When a bdelloid rotifer attaches to an object, it releases a biofilm-like mucus that sticks to the object. Especially in the case of objects floating on the water surface, there is no need for rotifers to adhere to them. The rotifer's secretion mucus spreads on the water surface and objects adhere to it, allowing objects attached to the mucus to move easily as the rotifer in the mucus swims. Even in bright environments, if the guiding light was brighter than the ambient light, the bdelloid rotifers exhibited positive phototaxis and were able to transport styrene resin specimens within a 20 mm diameter aquarium. When irradiated with blue LED light in a water tank with a diameter of 60 mm, test pieces made of aluminum, styrene resin, and nylon resin were able to be exposed to the blue LED light.
