研究成果の概要(英文):
I have implemented a virtual reality stimulus display system, and used it to investigate the role of visual motion cues in butterfly foraging behaviour. This work is published, and is detailed in the attached document. Though less closely related to the original project aims, I have also published another study showing that butterflies can detect motion using colour (rather than brightness) contrast, which has not previously been demonstrated in an insect.
More recently, I have built a novel pentachromatic projection system for the free-flight arena, and used this to investigate colour opponency in butterflies. These experiments are now complete and I am in the process of analyzing the results, with the intention to publish my findings in the near future. Additionally, I set up a collaboration with Cambridge University, which entailed me going there to built a similar closed-loop system to study aerial pursuit behaviour in flies. We plan to write a paper on this work very soon.