The molecular basis of mechanisms underlying polarization vision

Roberts, Nicholas W.; Porter, Megan L.; Cronin, Thomas W.

doi:10.1098/rstb.2010.0206

Cited by 73 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 94 publications

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“…Invertebrate polarization sensitivity is mediated by microvillar photoreceptors in which the orientation of lightabsorbing pigments results in linear dichroism (Waterman and Horch, 1966;Rossel and Wehner, 1986;Roberts et al, 2011). In addition, effects of form dichroism, structural ordering in proteinvisual pigment architecture and paracrystalline arrays of oligomerized visual pigments lead to highly differential absorption of linearly polarized light in many insects .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No response to linear polarization cues in operant conditioning experiments with zebra finches

Melgar

Lind

Muheim

2015

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Many animals can use the polarization of light in various behavioural contexts. Birds are well known to use information from the skylight polarization pattern for orientation and compass calibration. However, there are few controlled studies of polarization vision in birds, and the majority of them have not been successful in convincingly demonstrating polarization vision. We used a two-alternative forced choice conditioning approach to assess linear polarization vision in male zebra finches in the 'visible' spectral range (wavelengths >400 nm). The birds were trained to discriminate colour, brightness and polarization stimuli presented on either one of two LCD-screens. All birds were able to discriminate the colour and brightness stimuli, but they were unable to discriminate the polarization stimuli. Our results suggest that in the behavioural context studied here, zebra finches are not able to discriminate polarized light stimuli.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No response to linear polarization cues in operant conditioning experiments with zebra finches

Melgar

Lind

Muheim

2015

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…In such changing conditions, the polarization of light remains more constant than other visual dimensions over short ranges (Waterman, 1954;Cronin, 2001), which renders it a reliable provider of information (Shashar et al, 2011;Johnsen et al, 2011). Previous research in this field has focused on either the underlying retinal mechanisms of polarization sensitivity (for reviews, see Horváth and Varjú, 2004;Roberts et al, 2011) or the optical mechanisms by which polarization and multi-component polarization and/or colour signals are produced (Chiou et al, 2005;Mäthger and Hanlon, 2006;Chiou et al, 2007;Mäthger et al, 2009;Cronin et al, 2009). In contrast, the evolutionary context of polarization signal content relative to the visual system of receivers is still very much unknown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Out of the blue: the evolution of horizontally polarized signals inHaptosquilla(Crustacea, Stomatopoda, Protosquillidae)

How

Porter

Radford

et al. 2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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The polarization of light provides information that is used by many animals for a number of different visually guided behaviours. Several marine species, such as stomatopod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs, communicate using visual signals that contain polarized information, content that is often part of a more complex multidimensional visual signal. In this work, we investigate the evolution of polarized signals in species of Haptosquilla, a widespread genus of stomatopod, as well as related protosquillids. We present evidence for a pre-existing bias towards horizontally polarized signal content and demonstrate that the properties of the polarization vision system in these animals increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal. Combining these results with the increase in efficacy that polarization provides over intensity and hue in a shallow marine environment, we propose a joint framework for the evolution of the polarized form of these complex signals based on both efficacy-driven (proximate) and content-driven (ultimate) selection pressures. KEY WORDS: Stomatopod, Mantis shrimp, Polarization vision, Signal evolution, Sensory bias, Multi-modal signal INTRODUCTIONPolarization sensitivity is a common visual specialization that has evolved in both terrestrial and aquatic animals, and is particularly prevalent in invertebrates (Wehner and Labhart, 2006). On land, many insects use the celestial polarization pattern for navigation (Wehner, 1976;Rossel and Wehner, 1986;Labhart and Meyer, 1999;Dacke et al., 2003), while in the ocean, some crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs use polarization information to detect prey and possibly as a means of conspecific communication (Shashar et al., 1996;Cronin et al., 2003a;Chiou et al., 2007;Mäthger et al., 2009;Cronin et al., 2009;Chiou et al., 2011). In the context of communication, polarization often forms composite signals with other visual dimensions, such as hue and brightness (Cronin et al., 2003a;Cronin et al., 2009).The term polarization is used to define several properties of light. The angle of polarization describes the predominant direction in which the electric field of the light oscillates, while the degree of polarization defines the extent to which waves oscillate at the same angle. Underwater, differential sensitivity to either angle or degree of polarization has several fundamental advantages over other forms of visual information (Cronin et al., 2003a;Cronin et al., 2003b;Cronin et al., 2009;Shashar et al., 2011). For instance, in shallow, clear marine waters, the intensity and spectral composition of the downwelling light can vary dramatically, both as a function of the time of day, and because of environmental factors such as turbidity (Cronin et al., 2014). In such changing conditions, the polarization of light remains more constant than other visual dimensions over short ranges (Waterman, 1954;Cronin, 2001), which renders it a reliable provider of information (Shashar et al., 2011;Johnsen et al., 2011). Previous research in this field has fo...

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“…Some animals have developed a special sensitivity to polarized light and are able to benefit from this [29,[56][57][58][59]. Numerous investigations have been carried out on vision of locusts and crickets [60], cephalopods [61], and other animals [62] in order to understand the significance of the ability to detect polarized light.…”

Section: Polarization Detectors In Animal Visionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optical and Structural Characterization of Natural Nanostructures

Rio¹,

Fernández²

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The spectacular biodiversity of our planet is the result of millions of years of evolution. Over this time animals and plants have evolved and adapted to different environments, developing specific behavioral and physical adaptations to increase their chances of survival. During the last centuries human's curiosity has pushed us to study and understand the phenomena and mechanisms of the nature that surrounds us. This understanding has even led to the fields of biomimetics where we seek solutions to human challenges by emulating nature. Scarab beetles (from the insect family Scarabaeidae) have fascinated humans for centuries due to the brilliant metallic shine of their chitin-rich exoskeletons and more recently for their ability to polarize reflected light. This doctoral thesis focuses on the optical characterization of the polarized reflected light from beetles in the Chrysina genus, although beetles from other genera also have been investigated. All the Chrysina beetles studied here share one characteristic, they all reflect left-handed near-circular polarized light. In some cases we also detect right-handed polarized light. We have observed two different main behaviors among the studied Chrysina beetles. Those which are green-colored scatter the reflected polarized light, whereas those with metallic appearance are broadband specular reflectors. We present a detailed analysis of the optical properties with Mueller-matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry combined with optical- and electron-microscopy studies of the exoskeletons. This allow us to create a model that reproduces the optical properties of these structures. The model consists of a chiral (helicoidal) multilayer structure with a gradual change of the pitch and a constant rotation of the optic axis of the layers. Beetles are not alone to have polarizing structures in nature and it is known that many birds and insects have the ability to detect linearly polarized light. This raises the question of whether the polarization properties of the beetles are the direct or indirect results of evolution or just pure coincidence. In order to get a better understanding of the possible reasons of this particular ability, we present a simulation study of different possible scenarios in nature where incoming light could be polarized or unpolarized, and where we consider detectors (eyes) sensitive to different states of polarized light. If the beetles are able to use this characteristic for camouflage, to confuse predators or for intraspecific communication is, however, still unknown and requires further investigation. My research results provide deeper understanding of the properties of light reflected on the beetle's exoskeleton and the nanostructures responsible for the polarization of the reflected light. The developed model could be used as bioinspiration for the fabrication of novel nano-optical devices. My results can also complement biological behavioral experiments aiming to understand the purposes of this specific optical characteristics in nature.

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The molecular basis of mechanisms underlying polarization vision

Cited by 73 publications

References 94 publications

No response to linear polarization cues in operant conditioning experiments with zebra finches

No response to linear polarization cues in operant conditioning experiments with zebra finches

Out of the blue: the evolution of horizontally polarized signals inHaptosquilla(Crustacea, Stomatopoda, Protosquillidae)

Optical and Structural Characterization of Natural Nanostructures

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