Thermotaxis

Thermotaxis is a behavior in which an organism directs its locomotion up or down a gradient of temperature.

Lab research has determined that some slime molds[1] and small nematodes (namely Meloidogyne incognita)[2] can migrate along amazingly shallow temperature gradients of less than 0.1C/cm and sometimes as low as 0.001C/cm.[3] Theoretical analysis indicates that even this impressive feat is far from pushing the limits set by thermal noise.[4] The natural environment always contains temperature gradients that organisms could respond to, if it were useful. The response of the slime mold and nematode is complicated and thought to allow them to move toward an appropriate level in soil.[5][6][7] Recent research suggests that mammalian sperm employ thermotaxis to move to an appropriate location in the female's oviduct (see Sperm guidance).

References
  1. Poff and Skokut, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 74: 2007-2010 (1977). Thermotaxis by pseudoplasmodia of Dictyostelium discoideum.
  2. Pline, Diez, and Dusenbery, J. Nematology, 20:605-608 (1988). Extremely sensitive thermotaxis of the nematode Meloidogyne incognita.
  3. Dusenbery, David B. (1992). Sensory Ecology, p.114. W.H. Freeman, New York. ISBN 0-7167-2333-6.
  4. Dusenbery, David B. (2009). Living at Micro Scale, pp.159-163. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass. ISBN 978-0-674-03116-6.
  5. Dusenbery, D.B. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 22:219-223 (1988). Avoided temperature leads to the surface.
  6. Dusenbery, D.B. Biological Cybernetics, 60:431-437 (1989). A simple animal can use a complex stimulus pattern to find a location.
  7. Dusenbery, David B. (1996). “Life at Small Scale”, pp. 101-109. Scientific American Library, New York. ISBN 0-7167-5060-0.
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