Behavioural evidence for polarisation vision in stomatopods reveals a potential channel for communication

Marshall, J, Cronin, TW, Shashar, N and Land, M (1999) Behavioural evidence for polarisation vision in stomatopods reveals a potential channel for communication. Current Biology, 9 14: 755-758.


Author Marshall, J
Cronin, TW
Shashar, N
Land, M
Title Behavioural evidence for polarisation vision in stomatopods reveals a potential channel for communication
Journal name Current Biology   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 1999
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1016/S0960-9822(99)80336-4
Volume number 9
Issue number 14
ISSN 0960-9822
Start page 755
End page 758
Total pages 4
Editor Peter Newmark
Geoffrey North
Place of publication UK
Publisher Elsevier Science Ltd
Collection year 1999
Language eng
Subject C1
270502 Neurobiology
780105 Biological sciences
Abstract Polarisation sensitivity (PS) - the ability to detect the orientation of polarised light - occurs in a wide variety of invertebrates [1,2] and vertebrates [3-5], many of which are marine species Mi. Of these, the crustacea are particularly well documented in terms of their structural [6] and neural [7,8] adaptations for PS. The few behavioural studies conducted on crustaceans demonstrate orientation to, or local navigation with, polarised sky patterns [9]. Aside from this, the function of PS in crustaceans, and indeed in most animals, remains obscure. Where PS can be shown to allow perception of polarised light as a 'special sensory quality' [1], separate from intensity or colour, it has been termed polarisation vision (PV). Here, within the remarkable Visual system of the stomatopod crustaceans (mantis shrimps) [10], we provide the first demonstration of PV in the crustacea and the first convincing evidence for learning the orientation of polarised light in any animal. Using new polarimetric [11] and photographic methods to examine stomatopods, we found striking patterns of polarisation on their antennae and telson, suggesting that one function of PV in stomatopods may be communication [12]. PV may also be used for tasks such as navigation [5,9,13], location of reflective water surfaces [14] and contrast enhancement [1,15-18]. It is possible that the stomatopod PV system also contributes to some of these functions.
Keyword Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Polarization Vision
Mantis Shrimps
Color-vision
Light
Orientation
Crustacea
Insects
Q-Index Code C1

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collection: School of Biomedical Sciences Publications
 
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