Markov Chain Model of Three-Dimensional Daphnia Magna Movement

Ms. Helen Kafka
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Daphnia magna make turns through an antennae-whipping action. This action occurs every few seconds, hence, during the intervening time, the animal either remains in place or continues movement roughly along its current course. We view their movement in three dimensions. We divide the movement in the three dimensions into the movement on a two-dimensional lattice and the movement between the different planes. For the movement on the lattice, we construct a second-order Markov chain model to make predictions about which region of the lattice the animal moves to based on where it was at the last two time points. The movement between the different planes is simulated by a first-order Markov chain.

Advisor: Prof. David  Spade

Committee Members:
Profs. David Spade, Jeb Willenbring, and Chudamani Poudyal