$990.00
Explore the nuances of ant behavior with the Visual Discrimination Y-Maze, specially designed to investigate how ants perceive and respond to visual cues.
This Y-Maze configuration provides a straightforward dual-choice setup for observing foraging behaviors influenced by various visual stimuli. It features a central start arm that diverges into two choice arms, allowing placement of cues either within these arms or at their terminations.
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Features |
Length of arms of maze: 20cm |
Width of arms of maze: 4cm |
Height of arms of maze: 4cm |
Angle between two choice arms: 1200 |
The Ant Visual Discrimination Y-Maze is an important tool for examining visual discrimination in ants. These insects, which exhibit remarkable ecological diversity, inhabit a wide range of environments and employ various strategies like path integration and environmental cues for navigation (Schwarz & Cheng, 2010). In addition to pheromone trails, visual cues are vital for their navigation.
Visual discrimination tests, akin to the Visual Discrimination Chamber used for rodent studies, are widely utilized to assess visual learning and memory-related behaviors. The Ant Visual Discrimination Y-Maze offers a straightforward two-choice setup to evaluate foraging behaviors under different visual cues. This apparatus includes a long start arm that splits into two choice arms, forming a Y-Maze where cues can be placed within or at the ends of the choice arms. Research indicates that visual learning is influenced by the color, shape, and size of the cues, as well as the specific species and caste of the ants being studied (Fernandes, Buckley, & Nevin, 2017; Cammaerts, 2013). The Y-Maze is designed to accommodate large visual cues and other non-2D visual stimuli. Additionally, it can be used to investigate how the morphological variations in the eyes of different ant species impact visual perception and learning, as well as to evaluate choice behaviors.
Similar Y-mazes used for studying choice behaviors in various animals include the Honeybee Y-maze, the Bumblebee Y-maze, the Bat Y-maze, and the Zebrafish Y-maze.
The Ant Visual Discrimination Y-Maze is designed in a Y shape, constructed from black opaque acrylic and mounted on a white Plexiglas plate. The maze features a straight start arm that divides into two choice arms. Each of the three arms measures 20 cm in length, 4 cm in width, and 4 cm in height. The choice arms are connected at a 120-degree angle at the decision point. The maze is equipped to hold both small-field and large-field visual stimuli. Small-field stimuli can be positioned 4.5 cm from the decision point, while large-field stimuli can be placed 20 cm away. The visual stimuli used in the maze include 2D patterns and LED lights.
Clean the maze after every trial. Appropriately light the maze. A tracking and recording system such as the Noldus Ethovision XT can be used to assist with observations.
The following can be observed on the Ant Visual Discrimination Y-Maze:
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