Eye evolution and its functional basis

Nilsson, David

doi:10.1017/s0952523813000035

Cited by 218 publications

(233 citation statements)

References 112 publications

(200 reference statements)

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“…The difference in ultrastructure between FE photoreceptors and rods and cones is, however, striking. It seems evident that the expansion of membrane in rods and cones lead to improved photon absorption and thus enabled progress of high spatial resolution (Nilsson, 2013). This was arguably one of the crucial steps in the arms race between predators and prey during evolution.…”

Section: According To This Scenario Ancestral State For Visual Circmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amphioxus photoreceptors - insights into the evolution of vertebrate opsins, vision and circadian rhythmicity

Pergner

Kozmík²

2017

Int. J. Dev. Biol.

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Studies on amphioxus, representing the most basal group of chordates, can give insights into the evolution of vertebrate traits. The present review of amphioxus research is focused on the physiology of light-guided behavior as well as on the fine structure, molecular biology, and electrophysiology of the nervous system, with special attention being given to the photoreceptive organs. The amphioxus visual system is especially interesting because four types of receptors are involved in light detection -dorsal ocelli and Joseph cells (both rhabdomeric photoreceptors) and the frontal eye and lamellar body (both ciliary photoreceptors). Here, we consider how the available information on photoreceptive organs and light-guided behavior in amphioxus helps generate hypotheses about the history of these features during chordate and subsequently vertebrate evolution.

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Section: According To This Scenario Ancestral State For Visual Circmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amphioxus photoreceptors - insights into the evolution of vertebrate opsins, vision and circadian rhythmicity

Pergner

Kozmík²

2017

Int. J. Dev. Biol.

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“…The low-resolution vision that crown-of-thorns starfish have is more than sufficient for orientation towards large immovable objects (Nilsson 2013). Orientation towards large inanimate objects could also be accomplished by animals that have directional photoreception, a form of vision without spatial resolution.…”

Section: Properties Of the Visual Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visual orientation by the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci)

et al. 2016

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Photoreception in echinoderms has been known for over 200 years, but their visual capabilities remain poorly understood. As has been reported for some asteroids, the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) possess a seemingly advanced eye at the tip of each of its 7-23 arms. With such an array of eyes, the starfish can integrate a wide field of view of its surroundings. We hypothesise that, at close range, orientation and directional movements of the crown-of-thorns starfish are visually guided. In this study, the eyes and vision of A. planci were examined by means of light microscopy, electron microscopy, underwater goniometry, electroretinograms and behavioural experiments in the animals' natural habitat. We found that only animals with intact vision could orient to a nearby coral reef, whereas blinded animals, with olfaction intact, walked in random directions. The eye had peak sensitivity in the blue part (470 nm) of the visual spectrum and a narrow, horizontal visual field of approximately 100°wide and 30°high. With approximately 250 ommatidia in each adult compound eye and average interommatidial angles of 8°, crown-of-thorns starfish have the highest spatial resolution of any starfish studied to date. In addition, they have the slowest vision of all animals examined thus far, with a flicker fusion frequency of only 0.6-0.7 Hz. This may be adaptive as fast vision is not required for the detection of stationary objects such as reefs. In short, the eyes seem optimised for detecting large, dark, stationary objects contrasted against an ocean blue background. Our results show that the visual sense of the crown-of-thorns starfish is much more elaborate than has been thus far appreciated and is essential for orientation and localisation of suitable habitats.

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“…However, Mancuso & Baluska [138] have creatively suggested that plants do possess primitive eyes, that is ocelli, based on a very early suggestion by Haberlandt. These might provide the necessary discrimination [139]. Anything that does discriminate between the fine details in its environment using light, justifiably has a tissue akin to an eye although obviously much simpler.…”

Section: Leaf Mimicry Through Volatile Organic Chemical Recognition?mentioning

confidence: 99%

The foundations of plant intelligence

Trewavas

2017

Interface Focus.

103

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Intelligence is defined for wild plants and its role in fitness identified. Intelligent behaviour exhibited by single cells and systems similarity between the interactome and connectome indicates neural systems are not necessary for intelligent capabilities. Plants sense and respond to many environmental signals that are assessed to competitively optimize acquisition of patchily distributed resources. Situations of choice engender motivational states in goal-directed plant behaviour; consequent intelligent decisions enable efficient gain of energy over expenditure. Comparison of swarm intelligence and plant behaviour indicates the origins of plant intelligence lie in complex communication and is exemplified by cambial control of branch function. Error correction in behaviours indicates both awareness and intention as does the ability to count to five. Volatile organic compounds are used as signals in numerous plant interactions. Being complex in composition and often species and individual specific, they may represent the plant language and account for self and alien recognition between individual plants. Game theory has been used to understand competitive and cooperative interactions between plants and microbes. Some unexpected cooperative behaviour between individuals and potential aliens has emerged. Behaviour profiting from experience, another simple definition of intelligence, requires both learning and memory and is indicated in the priming of herbivory, disease and abiotic stresses.

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Eye evolution and its functional basis

Cited by 218 publications

References 112 publications

Amphioxus photoreceptors - insights into the evolution of vertebrate opsins, vision and circadian rhythmicity

Amphioxus photoreceptors - insights into the evolution of vertebrate opsins, vision and circadian rhythmicity

Visual orientation by the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci)

The foundations of plant intelligence

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