bioRxiv Science⌕ Search
Home/Archive/bioRxiv

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.06.15.496335

The C. elegans Observatory: High-throughput exploration of behavioral aging

Kerr, R. A.·Roux, A. E.·Goudeau, J. F.·Kenyon, C.
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Organisms undergo a variety of characteristic changes as they age, suggesting a substantial commonality in the mechanistic basis of aging. Experiments in model organisms have revealed a variety of cellular systems that impact lifespan, but technical challenges have prevented a comprehensive evaluation of how these components impact the trajectory of aging, and many components likely remain undiscovered. To facilitate the deeper exploration of aging trajectories at sufficient scale to enable primary screening, we have created the C. elegans Observatory, an automated system for monitoring the behavior of group-housed C. elegans throughout their lifespans. One Observatory consists of a set of computers running custom software to control an incubator containing custom imaging and motion-control hardware. In its standard configuration, the Observatory cycles through trays of standard 6 cm plates, running four assays per day on up to 576 plates per incubator. High-speed image processing captures a range of behavioral metrics including movement speed and stimulusinduced turning, and a data processing pipeline continuously computes summary statistics. The Observatory software includes a web interface that allows the user to input metadata and to view graphs of the trajectory of behavioral aging as the experiment unfolds. Compared to manual use of a plate-based C. elegans tracker, the Observatory reduces effort required by close to two orders of magnitude. Within the Observatory, reducing function of known lifespan genes with RNA interference (RNAi) gives the expected phenotypic changes, including extended motility in daf-2(RNAi) and progeria in hsf-1(RNAi). Lifespans scored manually from worms raised in conventional conditions match those scored from images captured by the Observatory. We have used the Observatory for a small candidate-gene screen and identified an extended youthful vigor phenotype for tank-1(RNAi) and a progeric phenotype for cdc-42(RNAi). By utilizing the Observatory, it is now feasible to conduct whole-genome screens for an aging-trajectory phenotype, thus greatly increasing our ability to discover and analyze new components of the aging program.

Source connections

Explore related subjects

animal behavior and cognitionPreprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Kerr, R. A., Roux, A. E., Goudeau, J. F., Kenyon, C.. 2022-06-17. The C. elegans Observatory: High-throughput exploration of behavioral aging. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.15.496335

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

Can a Tiny Brain Plan? Reconstructing a Predatory Detour inthe Jumping Spider Portia labiata

Planning is the process of evaluating alternative futures to predict outcomes and guide action. Evidence for this process exists in several vertebrates, but remains contested in in-vertebrates. Jumping spiders in the genus Portia show planning-like behavior in lab studies, but how this translates to the wild is unclear, where hunts of potentially lethal spider prey occur over durations of more than an hour in dense foliage. We present the first fully video-recorded wild hunt of any Portia species, with a 3D reconstruction of its forty-two minute long route to attack an orb-weaving spider. The reconstruction suggests P. labiata may have planned its approach, avoiding a route half as long but potentially more conspicuous to the prey's sensory systems.

animal behavior and cognition↗
bioRxiv2026

Assessing Enclosure Modifications to Enhance Accessibility for Zoo-Housed Meerkats (Suricata suricatta)

Scientific advancements have contributed to increased longevity of animals in zoos and aquariums, creating a growing need for environments that remain accessible to geriatric animals and animals with disabilities. However, few empirical studies have evaluated whether accessibility-focused enclosure modifications impact species-appropriate behavior. We evaluated the effects of accessibility modifications on a group of four adult zoo-housed meerkats (Suricata suricatta), including one individual with a forelimb amputation and one geriatric individual. Low-level logs and steps were added to the enclosure to provide intermediate heights and facilitate access to elevated areas. Following the introduction of these enclosure modifications, sentry behavior increased, with all individuals engaging in this behavior compared with only one individual during baseline. The meerkats also increased their overall use of low-elevated areas following modification, although individual responses varied. Posture differed between study phases, with meerkats more frequently adopting tri/quadrupedal postures following modification. Together, these findings suggest that relatively simple accessibility-focused modifications can expand opportunities for geriatric animals and animals with disabilities to engage in species-appropriate behavior. More broadly, this case study highlights the importance of empirically evaluating accessibility interventions and incorporating universal design principles into animal spaces to accommodate individuals with diverse physical abilities and promote positive animal welfare.

animal behavior and cognition↗
bioRxiv2026

Hide and seek in a rainforest canopy : when a fruit-eating carnivore (almost) met its top predator carnivore

Prey-predator interactions in the wild are spectacular. Common reported cases come from ground-dwelling animals, in open areas and by daylight. Here, we report, for the first time, a sequence with the nocturnal arboreal kinkajou (Potos flavus), being followed ca. 20 minutes apart by one of its predators, the puma (Puma concolor), 33 m aboveground in a rainforest in French Guiana.

animal behavior and cognition↗