Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
05:33
Measuring Biophysical and Psychological Stress Levels Following Visitation to Three Locations with Differing Levels of Nature
Published on: June 19, 2019
Should I stay or should I go?
Karl Emanuel Busch1, Birgitta Olofsson
1MRC-Laboratory of Molecular Biology; Cambridge, UK.
Worm
|September 24, 2013
Summary
The nematode C. elegans leaves depleted food patches, aligning with optimal foraging theory. Metabolism, oxygen, and carbon dioxide levels influence this decision-making behavior in worms.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Neuroscience
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Animals often forage in patchy environments with uneven resource distribution.
- Optimal foraging theory predicts when animals should leave a food patch.
- Previous studies on patch leaving decisions were limited to animals not suitable for molecular analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To mechanistically understand food patch leaving decisions in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans).
- To investigate how C. elegans behavior aligns with optimal foraging theory.
- To explore the role of metabolism, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in C. elegans foraging decisions.
Main Methods:
- Observed C. elegans behavior in response to food patch depletion.
- Utilized genetic analysis to dissect the underlying mechanisms of patch leaving.
- Investigated the influence of metabolic factors, including oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
Main Results:
- C. elegans increases its probability of leaving a food patch as it becomes depleted.
- The worm's foraging behavior conforms to predictions of optimal foraging theory.
- Metabolism, oxygen, and carbon dioxide were identified as regulators of food leaving behavior.
Conclusions:
- C. elegans provides a tractable model for studying the neurobiology of foraging decisions.
- Environmental factors like oxygen and carbon dioxide play a significant role in C. elegans foraging.
- This research offers mechanistic insights into optimal foraging strategies in a simple organism.
Related Concept Videos
02:06Social Exchange Theory
We have discussed why we form relationships, what attracts us to others, and different types of love. But what determines whether we are satisfied with and stay in a relationship? One theory that provides an explanation is social exchange theory. According to social exchange theory, we act as naïve economists in keeping a tally of the ratio of costs and benefits of forming and maintaining a relationship with others (Rusbult & Van Lange, 2003).
01:26Social Exchange Theory
As formulated by John Thibaut and Harold Kelley, Social Exchange Theory explains human relationships as economic-like exchanges that maximize rewards and minimize costs. This theory suggests that individuals engage in relationships to gain benefits and reduce burdens, similar to economic transactions. It has been widely applied to various types of relationships, including romantic, professional, and social interactions.Rewards and Costs in RelationshipsRelationship rewards include emotional...
01:28Ending Relationships
The dissolution of intimate relationships presents complex emotional and psychological challenges, particularly when emotional bonds are strong, the relationship is long-standing, and perceived alternatives are limited. This distress often intensifies in romantic breakups, where the initiator may experience greater turmoil than the rejected partner. Contributing factors include residual attachment, guilt over causing pain, and uncertainty about how to manage the situation. The stress is further...
02:14Leaving Groups
The nature of leaving groups strongly influences the outcome of a nucleophilic substitution reaction.
In general, in a nucleophilic substitution reaction, a nucleophile displaces a functional group, called the leaving group, from the substrate to give a substituted product. A leaving group departs the substrate molecule through heterolytic cleavage, taking the pair of electrons with it to become a relatively stable weak base in the form of an anion or a neutral molecule.
In a nucleophilic...
In general, in a nucleophilic substitution reaction, a nucleophile displaces a functional group, called the leaving group, from the substrate to give a substituted product. A leaving group departs the substrate molecule through heterolytic cleavage, taking the pair of electrons with it to become a relatively stable weak base in the form of an anion or a neutral molecule.
In a nucleophilic...
01:38Cognitive Dissonance
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
01:14Frustration and Conflict: Avoidance-Avoidance, Double-Approach Avoidance
Avoidance-avoidance conflict refers to a psychological situation where a person must choose between two or more unpleasant alternatives. These conflicts are particularly stressful because neither option is desirable. This dilemma is often expressed in sayings like "caught between a rock and a hard place" or "between the devil and the deep blue sea." For instance, individuals who fear dental procedures may find themselves torn between enduring a painful toothache or facing the anxiety of...