Data from: Flying Drosophila maintain arbitrary but stable headings relative to the angle of polarized light

Warren, Timothy L., California Institute of Technology

Weir, Peter T., California Institute of Technology

Dickinson, Michael H., California Institute of Technology

Published Mar 20, 2018 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gj706

Cite this dataset

Warren, Timothy L.; Weir, Peter T.; Dickinson, Michael H. (2018). Data from: Flying Drosophila maintain arbitrary but stable headings relative to the angle of polarized light [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gj706

Abstract

Animals must use external cues to maintain a straight course over long distances. In this study, we investigated how the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, selects and maintains a flight heading relative to the axis of linearly polarized light, a visual cue produced by the atmospheric scattering of sunlight. To track flies' headings over extended periods, we used a flight simulator that coupled the angular velocity of dorsally presented polarized light to the stroke amplitude difference of the animal's wings. In the simulator, most flies actively maintained a stable heading relative to the axis of polarized light for the duration of 15 minute flights. We found that individuals selected arbitrary, unpredictable headings relative to the polarization axis, which demonstrates that Drosophila can perform proportional navigation using a polarized light pattern. When flies flew in two consecutive bouts separated by a 5 minute gap, the two flight headings were correlated, suggesting individuals retain a memory of their chosen heading. We found that adding a polarized light pattern to a light intensity gradient enhanced flies' orientation ability, suggesting Drosophila use a combination of cues to navigate. For both polarized light and intensity cues, flies' capacity to maintain a stable heading gradually increased over several minutes from the onset of flight. Our findings are consistent with a model in which each individual initially orients haphazardly but then settles on a heading which is maintained via a self-reinforcing process. This may be a general dispersal strategy for animals with no target destination.

Usage notes

Open loop - Light off

Flight experiments with open loop period (light off), prior to closed-loop flight. (Fig. 7)

open_loop_light_off_0.csv

Open Loop - Light On

Flight experiments with open loop period (light on) prior to closed-loop flight. (Fig. 7)

open_loop_light_on_0.csv

Perturbed Paired (1/2)

First of 2 data files with data from perturbed, paired flight experiments. (Fig. 3)

perturbed_paired_0.csv

Perturbed Paired (2/2)

Second of 2 data files with perturbed, paired flight experiments. (Fig. 3)

perturbed_paired_1.csv

Unperturbed, paired (1/3)

First of 3 data files from unperturbed, paired experiments. (Fig. 3)

unperturbed_paired_0.csv

Unperturbed, paired (2/3)

Second of 3 data files from unperturbed, paired flight experiments. (Fig. 3)

unperturbed_paired_1.csv

Unperturbed, paired (3/3)

Third of 3 data files with unperturbed, paired flight experiments. (Fig. 3)

unperturbed_paired_2.csv

Circular Polarizer

Flight data with circular polarizer, control stimulus.

circular_polarizer_0.csv

Linear Polarizer, 365 nm

Flight data from experiments with linear polarizer, 365 nm ) wavelength (UV) light source.

linear_polarizer_365nm_0.csv

Linear Polarizer, 470nm (1/3)

First of 3 files with flight data with linear polarizer, 470 nm wavelength light source (blue light).

linear_polarizer_470nm_0.csv

Linear polarizer (470nm) 2/3

Second of 3 files with flight data with linear polarizer, 470 nm wavelength light source (blue light).

linear_polarizer_470nm_1.csv

Linear Polarizer, 470 nm (3/3)

Third of 3 files with flight data with linear polarizer, 470 nm wavelength light source (blue light).

linear_polarizer_470nm_2.csv

Intensity and Linear Polarizer

Data from experiments with combined intensity gradient and linear polarizer.

intensity_linear_polarizer_0.csv

Intensity and Circular Polarizer

Data from experiments with combined intensity gradient and circular polarizer.

intensity_circular_polarizer_0.csv

Data Description (README)

Description of contents and formatting of data files

Funding

National Science Foundation, Award: IBN-1352707

Location

Seattle

Washington