Effect of Temperature on Caenorhabditis elegans Locomotion

Abstract

Caenorhabditis elegans has a simple yet highly developed nervous system. Exploring the effects of temperature on locomotion can give insight on how more complex ectotherms may react to an increase in temperature. We focused on speed and wavelength as the components of locomotion to test the effects of temperature. The three temperature treatments used were 11°C, 17°C and 25°C. We placed a single C.elegans on a Petri dish and recorded the time it took to move a certain distance. Their track lengths and wavelengths were measured and analyzed using the programs DinoXcope and ImageJ. At temperatures of 11°C, 17°C, and 25°C, the speed of C.elegans was 0.017 mm/sec , 0.060 mm/sec , and 0.136 mm/sec respectively. The wavelengths were found to be 0.16 mm, 0.23 mm and 0.32 mm respectively. There was a significant difference between the 11°C and 25°C temperatures. Our results suggest that an increase in temperature increases the locomotion of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.