Degrees of polarization of reflected light eliciting polarotaxis in dragonflies (Odonata), mayflies (Ephemeroptera) and tabanid flies (Tabanidae)

Kriska, György; Bernáth, Balázs; Farkas, Róbert; Horváth, Gábor

doi:10.1016/j.jinsphys.2009.08.013

Cited by 93 publications

(111 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The practically totally polarized light with d ≈ 100% used in our experiments 1-4 is obviously higher than the species-dependent threshold d* of polarization sensitivity in mayflies determined by Kriska et al [19]), who obtained the following d*-values for four creek-inhabiting mayfly species: Baetis rhodani (32% ≤ d* ≤ 55%), Ephemera danica, Epeorus silvicola, Rhithrogena semicolorata (55% ≤ d* ≤ 92%). The value of d* is not known for the two mayfly species (E. virgo, C. robusta) investigated in this work.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

“…On the other hand, the vegetation-mirroring parts of the water surface reflect horizontally and non-horizontally (obliquely and vertically) polarized light with moderate and low degrees of polarization (d $_amp_$lt; 35%). Since the threshold d* of polarization sensitivity in polarotactic aquatic insects (dragonflies: d* ≈ 10-20%, mayflies: d* ≈ 30%, tabanid flies: d* ≈ 30%; [19]), it is pertinent to suppose that the moderately/weakly polarized light from the mirror image of vegetation (Fig. 6) can also be perceived by the investigated mayflies.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mayflies, as typical aquatic insects, are positively polarotactic as well, because they also find water by means of the horizontally polarized water-reflected light [17][18][19]. In the case of mayfly species swarming immediately above the water surface, such as Ephoron virgo [Olivier 1791] ( Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mayflies are least attracted to vertical polarization: A polarotactic reaction helping to avoid unsuitable habitats

Farkas

Száz

Egri

et al. 2016

Physiology & Behavior

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Like other aquatic insects, mayflies are positively polarotactic and locate water surfaces by means of the horizontal polarization of water-reflected light. However, may vertically polarized light also have implications for the swarming behaviour of mayflies? To answer this question, we studied in four field experiments the behavioural responses of Ephoron virgo and Caenis robusta mayflies to lamps emitting horizontally and vertically polarized and unpolarized light. In both species, unpolarized light induces positive phototaxis, horizontally polarized light elicits positive photo-and polarotaxis, horizontally polarized light is much more attractive than unpolarized light, and vertically polarized light is the least attractive if the stimulus intensities and spectra are the same. Vertically polarized light was the most attractive for C. robusta if its intensity was about two and five times higher than that of the unpolarized and horizontally polarized stimuli, respectively. We suggest that the mayfly behaviour observed in our experiments may facilitate the stability of swarming above water surfaces. Beside the open water surface reflecting horizontally polarized light, the shadow and mirror image of riparian vegetation at the edge of the water surface reflect weakly and non-horizontally (mainly vertically) polarized light. Due to their positive polarotaxis, flying mayflies remain continuously above the water surface, because they keep away from the unpolarized or non-horizontally polarizing edge regions (water surface and coast line) of water bodies. We also discuss how our findings can explain the regulation of mayfly colonization.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mayflies are least attracted to vertical polarization: A polarotactic reaction helping to avoid unsuitable habitats

Farkas

Száz

Egri

et al. 2016

Physiology & Behavior

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“…In numerous earlier field experiments (Schwind 1991(Schwind , 1995Horváth and Zeil 1996;Kriska et al 1998Kriska et al , 2008Kriska et al , 2009Wildermuth 1998;Bernáth et al 2001;Horváth and Varjú 2004;Horváth et al 2007Horváth et al , 2010aLerner et al 2008;Málnás et al 2011) it has been shown that water-seeking flying aquatic insects land on horizontal shiny black plastic sheets not due to positive phototaxis (induced by the intensity of plastic-reflected light), but exclusively due to positive polarotaxis (induced by the horizontal polarization of plastic-reflected light), otherwise they would also land on non-polarizing or only weakly polarizing bright test surfaces such as matte white canvas, white plastic sheet or aluminium foil. The same is true also for the aquatic insect species studied earlier (Csabai et al 2006(Csabai et al , 2012Kriska et al 2006;Csabai 2009, 2013) and also in the present work at the same marsh-land site.…”

Section: That At Nightmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The matte canvas reflected only weakly polarized light (d < 20%) being generally unattractive to water insects (Schwind 1995;Kriska et al 2009). Therefore, the lamplit plastic sheet could induce simultaneously strong phototaxis and polarotaxis, while the lamplit canvas could practically elicit only strong phototaxis in flying aquatic insects.…”

Section: That At Nightmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phototaxis and polarotaxis hand in hand: night dispersal flight of aquatic insects distracted synergistically by light intensity and reflection polarization

Boda

Horváth

Kriska

et al. 2014

Naturwissenschaften

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Based on an earlier observation in the field, we hypothesized that light intensity and horizontally polarized reflected light may strongly influence the flight behaviour of night-active aquatic insects.We assumed that phototaxis and polarotaxis together have a more harmful effect on the dispersal flight of these insects than they would have separately. We tested this hypothesis in a multiplechoice field experiment using horizontal test surfaces laid on the ground. We offered simultaneously the following visual stimuli for aerial aquatic insects: (1) lamplit matte black canvas inducing phototaxis alone, (2) unlit shiny black plastic sheet eliciting polarotaxis alone, (3) lamplit shiny black plastic sheet inducing simultaneously phototaxis and polarotaxis, and (4) unlit matte black canvas as a visually unattractive control. The unlit matte black canvas trapped only a negligible number (13) of water insects. The sum (16432) of the total numbers of water beetles and bugs captured on the lamplit matte black canvas (7922) and the unlit shiny black plastic sheet (8510) was much smaller than the total catch (29682) caught on the lamplit shiny black plastic sheet. This provides experimental evidence for the synergistic interaction of phototaxis (elicited by the unpolarized direct lamplight) and polarotaxis (induced by the strongly and horizontally polarized plastic-reflected light) in the investigated aquatic insects. Thus, horizontally polarizing artificial lamplit surfaces can function as an effective ecological trap due to this synergism of optical cues, especially in the urban environment.

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Impacts of Indian waterfern (Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn.) infestation and removal on macroinvertebrate biodiversity and conservation in spring‐fed streams in the Australian arid zone

Carey

Strachan

Robson

2017

Aquatic Conservation

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Removal of invasive macrophytes is a priority for river managers. However, the ecological effects of macrophyte removal on macroinvertebrate diversity are rarely examined but may be of particular significance in conservation reserves and when threatened species are present. This study investigated the macroinvertebrate fauna inhabiting invasive and native macrophytes in spring‐fed channels in the Millstream‐Chichester National Park, Australia. The effects of waterfern management (periodic hand‐weeding) were examined by comparing assemblages at weeded and unweeded reaches on three occasions. Ceratopteris thalictroides harboured a diverse, insect‐dominated macroinvertebrate assemblage, including the endangered damselfly Nososticta pilbara. Total taxon richness was similar between waterfern and native macrophytes, but macroinvertebrate assemblages differed in the dry season. Damselflies (including N. pilbara) were associated with waterfern‐dominated reaches, whereas dragonfly nymphs were more common among native macrophytes. Weeding altered macroinvertebrate assemblage composition. Some weeded reaches developed assemblages indistinguishable from those in native‐dominated reaches, but others did not. Weeded reaches often supported taxa that were rare or absent from waterfern‐dominated reaches, including suspension feeders, found also in native‐dominated reaches. Odonata are particularly diverse at Millstream, with 18 species recorded. Odonate species richness was significantly lower at weeded reaches than unweeded reaches. Nososticta pilbara and other short‐range endemic species were absent from weeded reaches. As most odonates are univoltine, these adverse effects on local population size may affect species persistence. Invasive macrophyte species may support a high diversity of native invertebrates, including endangered and short‐range endemic species. Furthermore, although hand‐weeding appeared to enable a greater diversity of species to co‐exist, the removal of a large biomass of macrophytes appeared to remove whole cohorts of insect populations from stream reaches, including endangered species. Removal of invasive macrophytes should not be implemented without understanding their effects on invertebrate assemblage composition and life‐cycles.

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Degrees of polarization of reflected light eliciting polarotaxis in dragonflies (Odonata), mayflies (Ephemeroptera) and tabanid flies (Tabanidae)

Cited by 93 publications

References 24 publications

Mayflies are least attracted to vertical polarization: A polarotactic reaction helping to avoid unsuitable habitats

Mayflies are least attracted to vertical polarization: A polarotactic reaction helping to avoid unsuitable habitats

Phototaxis and polarotaxis hand in hand: night dispersal flight of aquatic insects distracted synergistically by light intensity and reflection polarization

Impacts of Indian waterfern (Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn.) infestation and removal on macroinvertebrate biodiversity and conservation in spring‐fed streams in the Australian arid zone

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