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First published online August 30, 2006
Journal of Experimental Biology 209, 3636-3651 (2006)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2006
doi: 10.1242/jeb.02403

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Modeling the electric field of weakly electric fish

David Babineau¹, André Longtin¹ and John E. Lewis^2,*

¹ Department of Physics
² Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: jlewis{at}uottawa.ca)

Accepted 22 June 2006

Weakly electric fish characterize the environment in which they live by sensing distortions in their self-generated electric field. These distortions result in electric images forming across their skin. In order to better understand electric field generation and image formation in one particular species of electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus, we have developed three different numerical models of a two-dimensional cross-section of the fish's body and its surroundings. One of these models mimics the real contour of the fish; two other geometrically simple models allow for an independent study of the effects of the fish's body geometry and conductivity on electric field and image formation. Using these models, we show that the fish's tapered body shape is mainly responsible for the smooth, uniform field in the rostral region, where most electroreceptors are located. The fish's narrowing body geometry is also responsible for the relatively large electric potential in the caudal region. Numerical tests also confirm the previous hypothesis that the electric fish body acts approximately like an ideal voltage divider; this is true especially for the tail region. Next, we calculate electric images produced by simple objects and find they vary according to the current density profile assigned to the fish's electric organ. This explains some of the qualitative differences previously reported for different modeling approaches. The variation of the electric image's shape as a function of different object locations is explained in terms of the fish's geometrical and electrical parameters. Lastly, we discuss novel cues for determining an object's rostro-caudal location and lateral distance using these electric images.

Key words: electric image, electrolocation, finite-element-model, Apteronotus leptorhynchus

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