BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//linuxsoftware.nz//NONSGML Joyous v1.4//EN BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Neural systems that process visual self-motion cues in larval fish : a comparative approach DTSTART:20241210T100000Z DTEND:20241210T120000Z DTSTAMP:20260704T104015Z UID:f79fedc2-d4d7-4610-99b1-4f9a2094cd2e SEQUENCE:2 CREATED:20241206T101618Z DESCRIPTION:Animal models are widely used in science\, with zebrafish\, Da nio rerio\, occupying a key role in neuroscience.However\, broadening the variety of species studied is essential to test the generalization of find ings and explore sources of behavioral diversity. This thesis expands meth ods used for the study of visual behaviors in larval zebrafish to other sp ecies\, such as the giant danio\, Devario aequipinnatus\, and the danionel la\, Danionella cerebrum.Using two-photon functional imaging in zebrafish and giant danio\, a protocol was developed to assess neural responses to m oving gratings and evaluate speed tuning. Zebrafish imaging revealed diffe ring responses to forward and backward motion\, but the giant danio showed inconsistent fluorescence\, limiting further analysis.For the study of bi nocular optomotor response\, a stimulus and protocol were designed and tes ted in all three species. While angular responses were similar across spec ies\, linear displacements differed. Zebrafish and danionella showed compa rable baseline responses\, whereas giant danio exhibited significantly hig her responses\, with zebrafish and giant danio also showing increased resp onses for forward-directed motion\, a pattern absent in danionella.Finally \, a setup was constructed to capture images of hunting larvae for studyin g prey capture behavior in zebrafish and giant danio\, with the latter dem onstrating a higher prey consumption rate. A SLEAP model was trained to ad d eye and fin tracking to existing tail tracking\, which\, combined with p rey location data\, provides a detailed characterization of prey capture b ehavior sequences. LAST-MODIFIED:20241206T101854Z LOCATION:DF Seminar Room/Online URL:http://df.vps.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/en/events/neural-systems-that-process -visual-self-motion-cues-in-larval-fish-a-comparative-approach/ X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Animal models are w idely used in science\, with zebrafish\, Danio rerio\, occupying a key role in neuroscience.

However\, broadenin g the variety of species studied is essential to test the generalization o f findings and explore sources of behavioral diversity. This thesis expand s methods used for the study of visual behaviors in larval zebrafish to ot her species\, such as the giant danio\, Devario aequipinnatus\, and the danionella\, Danionella cerebrum.

Using two-photon functional imaging in zebrafish and giant dani o\, a protocol was developed to assess neural responses to moving gratings and evaluate speed tuning. Zebrafish imaging revealed differing responses to forward and backward motion\, but the giant danio showed inconsistent fluorescence\, limiting further analysis.

For the study of binocular optomotor response\, a stimulus and prot ocol were designed and tested in all three species. While angular response s were similar across species\, linear displacements differed. Zebrafish a nd danionella showed comparable baseline responses\, whereas giant danio e xhibited significantly higher responses\, with zebrafish and giant danio a lso showing increased responses for forward-directed motion\, a pattern ab sent in danionella.

Finally\, a set up was constructed to capture images of hunting larvae for studying prey c apture behavior in zebrafish and giant danio\, with the latter demonstrati ng a higher prey consumption rate. A SLEAP model was trained to add eye an d fin tracking to existing tail tracking\, which\, combined with prey loca tion data\, provides a detailed characterization of prey capture behavior sequences.

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