Spectral Sensitivity of Photoreceptors and Spectral Inputs to the Neurons of the First Optic Ganglion in the Locust (Locusta migratoria)

Vishnevskaya, T.M.; Shura-Bura, T. M.

doi:10.1007/978-3-0348-6410-7_20

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…In the DRA of S. gregaria, there are blue receptors peaking at 450·nm with high sensitivity to polarized light (polarization sensitivity, PS=6.92) and UV receptors peaking at 320·nm with low sensitivity to polarized light (PS=2.04) (Eggers and Gewecke, 1993). In the rest of compound eye, there are no published data from S. gregaria, but three types of spectral receptors were identified in Locusta migratoria (Vishnevskaya and Shura-Bura, 1990). These types of photoreceptor are maximally sensitive at 360·nm (UV receptor), 430·nm (blue receptor), and 530·nm (green receptor).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spectral properties of identified polarized-light sensitive interneurons in the brain of the desert locustSchistocerca gregaria

Kinoshita

Pfeiffer

Homberg

2007

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARY Many migrating animals employ a celestial compass mechanism for spatial navigation. Behavioral experiments in bees and ants have shown that sun compass navigation may rely on the spectral gradient in the sky as well as on the pattern of sky polarization. While polarized-light sensitive interneurons(POL neurons) have been identified in the brain of several insect species,there are at present no data on the neural basis of coding the spectral gradient of the sky. In the present study we have analyzed the chromatic properties of two identified POL neurons in the brain of the desert locust. Both neurons, termed TuTu1 and LoTu1, arborize in the anterior optic tubercle and respond to unpolarized light as well as to polarized light. We show here that the polarized-light response of both types of neuron relies on blue-sensitive photoreceptors. Responses to unpolarized light depended on stimulus position and wavelength. Dorsal unpolarized blue light inhibited the neurons, while stimulation from the ipsilateral side resulted in opponent responses to UV light and green light. While LoTu1 was inhibited by UV light and was excited by green light, one subtype of TuTu1 was excited by UV and inhibited by green light. In LoTu1 the sensitivity to polarized light was at least 2 log units higher than the response to unpolarized light stimuli. Taken together, the spatial and chromatic properties of the neurons may be suited to signal azimuthal directions based on a combination of the spectral gradient and the polarization pattern of the sky.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spectral properties of identified polarized-light sensitive interneurons in the brain of the desert locustSchistocerca gregaria

Kinoshita

Pfeiffer

Homberg

2007

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…However, these parameters have been thoroughly characterized for another insect species, the honeybee . Locust and honeybee receptor sensitivity are similar (comparing data in Vishnevskaya andShura-Bura 1990 andKevan 2005). We therefore approximated the color distance between flags/leaves and red/green cabbage, as perceived by locusts, by plotting them on the honeybee color triangle (Chittka and Kevan 2005).…”

Section: Color Perception: Color Triangles and Linesmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…The color vision of locusts is based on three types of photoreceptor with peak sensitivities at 360, 430 and 530 nm (Briscoe and Chittka 2001;Vishnevskaya and Shura-Bura 1990). Color vision in goats (as well as many other ungulates) is dichromatic, with receptor peak sensitivities at 443 and 553 nm (Jacobs et al 1998;Carroll et al 2001).…”

Section: Color Perception: Color Triangles and Linesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The minimal color distance that allows reliable color discrimination is determined through behavioral tests . Color receptor excitation values, for S. viridis flags/leaves and red/green cabbage, were calculated for locusts using receptor sensitivity data provided by Vishnevskaya and Shura-Bura (1990). Receptor noise for locusts is difficult to determine, because it varies with the cells chosen for recording (Vishnevskaya and Shura-Bura 1990), and with temperature and light intensity (Faivre and Juusola 2008).…”

Section: Color Perception: Color Triangles and Linesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Beyond pollinator attraction: extra-floral displays deter herbivores in a Mediterranean annual plant

et al. 2011

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The evolution of several floral traits is thought to be driven by multiple selective agents, including pollinators and herbivores. Similar combinations of selection pressures may have shaped extra-floral traits. The conspicuous purple tufts of leaves (''flags''), which often terminate vertical inflorescences in the Mediterranean annual Salvia viridis, were shown to attract insect pollinators to the flowering patch. Here we test whether they also function as anti-herbivore signals. We determined the aposematic potential of S. viridis flags on three levels: concentrations of anthocyanins, suggested to function as aposematic visual signals, in leaves and flags; spectrometry to estimate whether the color-vision system of two common Mediterranean generalist herbivores (locusts and goats) can discriminate flags from leaves; and choice experiments to determine food preferences of the same herbivores. Anthocyanin concentrations in flags were [10-fold higher than in leaves. Flags exhibited peak reflectance at 450 and 700 nm wavelengths, while leaves reflected maximally at 550 nm. According to the Vorobyev-Osorio color vision model, these differences in color reflection are likely to allow visual discrimination by herbivores. Goats preferred feeding on clipped inflorescences over control inflorescences. Locusts preferred leaves over flags. To test whether this was due to deterrence from the flags' coloration, we also offered them choice between leaves and a rare, white morph, of the flags. The locusts chose both equally immediately after presentation, but leaves attracted more individuals after 5 min of feeding. The locusts also preferred green cabbage over anthocyanin-rich red cabbage. These results support the function of colorful extrafloral displays as warning signals.

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“…The spectral sensitivities are similar to the cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus), with spectral sensitivities at 332 nm (UV), 445 nm (blue) and 515 nm (green) (Zufall et al 1988). Another similar orthopteran is Locusta migratoria with spectral sensitivities at 360 nm (UV), 430 nm (blue) and 530 nm (green) (Vishnevskaya and Shura-Bura 1990).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

What weta want: colour preferences of a frugivorous insect

Fadzly

Burns

2010

Arthropod-Plant Interactions

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Plants use colours as signals to attract mutualists and repel antagonists. Fleshy-fruits are often conspicuously coloured to signal different types of information including fruit maturity and spatial location. Previous work on fruit colour selection focus on large diurnal vertebrates, yet fruit colours are perceived differently by frugivores with different types of visual systems. Here, we tested whether a nocturnal, frugivorous, seed-dispersing insect selects fruits based on their pigmentation and whether different lighting conditions affect fruit colour selection. We captured 20 Wellington tree weta (Hemideina crassidens) from a forest reserve on the North Island of New Zealand and brought them into laboratory conditions to test their fruit colour preferences. The fruits of Coprosma acerosa, a native shrub species that naturally produces translucent, blue-streaked fruits, were dyed either red or blue. Fruits were then offered to weta in a binary (y-maze) choice test in two light conditions, either at night during a full moon or under artificial light conditions in the lab. Weta preferred unmanipulated, naturally blue-streaked fruits and artificially-blue coloured fruits over those dyed red. Furthermore, their colour preferences were unaffected by light environment. Our results therefore suggest that weta can discriminate between colours (using colour vision) in both light and dark light environments. Their consistent preferences for colours other than red indicate that weta might be responsible for the unusual colours of fleshy-fruits in New Zealand.

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Spectral Sensitivity of Photoreceptors and Spectral Inputs to the Neurons of the First Optic Ganglion in the Locust (Locusta migratoria)

Cited by 7 publications

References 5 publications

Spectral properties of identified polarized-light sensitive interneurons in the brain of the desert locustSchistocerca gregaria

Spectral properties of identified polarized-light sensitive interneurons in the brain of the desert locustSchistocerca gregaria

Beyond pollinator attraction: extra-floral displays deter herbivores in a Mediterranean annual plant

What weta want: colour preferences of a frugivorous insect

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