Hapca, Simona

Crawford, John W

MacMillan, Keith

Wilson, Mike J

Young, Iain

2007

We use a correlated random walk model in two dimensions to simulate the movement of the slug parasitic nematode 'Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita' in homogeneous environments. The model incorporates the observed statistical distributions of turning angle and speed derived from time-lapse studies of individual nematode trails. We identify strong temporal correlations between the turning angles and speed that preclude the case of a simple random walk in which successive steps are independent. These correlated random walks are appropriately modelled using an anomalous diffusion model, more precisely using a fractional sub-diffusion model for which the associated stochastic process is characterised by strong memory effects in the probability density function.

Journal of Theoretical Biology, 248(1), p. 212-224

1095-8541

0022-5193

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/5625

Academic Press

Modelling nematode movement using time-fractional dynamics

Journal Article

Publication