Primary Assay — Water Flea
Phototaxis
Daphnia magna
Daphnia move toward dim light and away from bright illumination, a behavior used in toxicology and circadian research. Vertical and horizontal phototactic indices are core endpoints.
Quantitative Output
Measured Parameters
Every parameter is automatically tracked frame-by-frame in the ConductVision pipeline for Daphnia magna.
| Parameter | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Phototactic index | ratio | Light-zone occupancy |
| Swim direction bias | deg | Heading vs light |
| Vertical migration amplitude | mm | Up-down displacement |
| Light threshold | lux | Minimum responsive intensity |
References
Citations for Phototaxis
- Storz UC, Paul RJ. (1998). Phototaxis in water fleas (Daphnia magna) is differently influenced by visible and UV light. J Comp Physiol A, 183, 709-717.
Compatible Equipment
Hardware for Water Flea Research
Glass Column Phototaxis Chamber
Vertical phototactic assay
Multi-Well Behavioral Imaging Plate
High-throughput toxicology
Heart-Rate Imaging Microscope
Cardiotoxicity
Predator-Cue Exposure Chamber
Inducible defense induction
Acute Immobilization Test Plate
OECD 202 endpoint
Related Assays
Other Water Flea Primary Assays
11
Predator-Induced Defenses
Daphnia magna
Kairomones from predatory fish or invertebrates induce morphological defenses (helmets, neck-teeth) and altered swimming…
11
Swimming Activity
Daphnia magna
Spontaneous swimming with characteristic hop-and-sink pattern. Bout frequency, speed, and pause duration are baseline me…
11
Acute Immobilization (OECD 202)
Daphnia magna
The 24-/48-h immobilization assay is the standard endpoint for chemical toxicity testing in aquatic ecotoxicology. Media…
Run Phototaxis on ConductVision
Our team will configure the protocol, camera rig, and analysis pipeline for your water flea facility.
