Summary
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1.
All experiments were performed on freely flyingDrosophila in a new, horizontal wind tunnel where the visual input was provided by the apparent axial movement of rotating helical patterns surrounding the cylindrical working section. The flies were flown upwind along a narrow plume of attractant odour in the mid-line of the tunnel so their visual input was specified.
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2.
When the pattern was at a constant distance from the flies they controlled their groundspeed by flying at an airspeed such that there was a constant angular velocity of image movement rather than a constant frequency of stripe alternation over their eyes. They thus flew at the same groundspeed regardless of wind speed.
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3.
When the distance of the pattern from the flies changed in a step, the flies adjusted their airspeed at the change so as to keep a relatively constant groundspeed. They did this by changing the angular velocity of image movement that they held constant.
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4.
When the distance of the pattern from the flies changed gradually, on a cone rather than in a step, the flies did not adjust the angular velocity of image movement that they held constant. Their groundspeed thus did not remain constant.
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5.
It is suggested that the flies used parallax cues, from the different apparent angular velocities visible juxtaposed on either side of a step in pattern distance, to adjust the angular velocity of image movement that they held constant.
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David, C.T. Compensation for height in the control of groundspeed byDrosophila in a new, ‘barber's pole’ wind tunnel. J. Comp. Physiol. 147, 485–493 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00612014
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00612014