Scientists film 'jogging' shrimp on a treadmill
Scientists have put a shrimp on a tiny treadmill to examine how far the crustaceans travel for food.
By Richard Savill
Last Updated: 4:55PM GMT 03 Nov 2008
The treadmill which was built in a tank of water enabled researchers to measure the activity levels of a "jogging" shrimp.
Scientists found the four inch long shrimp could move at speeds of 66ft per minute and that it was able to continue for three hours before needing a rest.
The experiment was filmed and later released onto the internet where it has been seen by more than a million people.
Some fans have added backing music from the film Chariots of Fire, which was about Roger Bannister breaking the four minute mile, while others have played the Benny Hill theme tune.
Professor David Scholnick, of the Pacific University in Oregon in America, one of the scientists involved, said they wanted to compare the performance of a sick shrimp with that of a healthy one.
A sluggish, sick human was easy to spot but it was harder to tell when a shrimp was under the weather.
"The situation is much more critical for a sick crustacean where a decrease in performance may mean the difference between life and death," said Prof Scholnick.
"A shrimp dealing with an infection is less active and limited in its ability to migrate, find food, and avoid being eaten."
He added: "These studies will give us a better idea of how marine animals can perform in their native habitat when faced with increasing pathogens and immunological challenges."
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They put him on CUK first to find out how many posts it will take for him to shut up
Scientists have put a shrimp on a tiny treadmill to examine how far the crustaceans travel for food.
By Richard Savill
Last Updated: 4:55PM GMT 03 Nov 2008
The treadmill which was built in a tank of water enabled researchers to measure the activity levels of a "jogging" shrimp.
Scientists found the four inch long shrimp could move at speeds of 66ft per minute and that it was able to continue for three hours before needing a rest.
The experiment was filmed and later released onto the internet where it has been seen by more than a million people.
Some fans have added backing music from the film Chariots of Fire, which was about Roger Bannister breaking the four minute mile, while others have played the Benny Hill theme tune.
Professor David Scholnick, of the Pacific University in Oregon in America, one of the scientists involved, said they wanted to compare the performance of a sick shrimp with that of a healthy one.
A sluggish, sick human was easy to spot but it was harder to tell when a shrimp was under the weather.
"The situation is much more critical for a sick crustacean where a decrease in performance may mean the difference between life and death," said Prof Scholnick.
"A shrimp dealing with an infection is less active and limited in its ability to migrate, find food, and avoid being eaten."
He added: "These studies will give us a better idea of how marine animals can perform in their native habitat when faced with increasing pathogens and immunological challenges."
------
They put him on CUK first to find out how many posts it will take for him to shut up
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