Method for Determining the Contribution of Fluorescence to an Optical Signature, with Implications for Postulating a Visual Function

Mazel, Charles H.

doi:10.3389/fmars.2017.00266

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Without data on the contribution of fluorescence to the total visual signal under real world conditions, I cannot make definitive claims about the purpose or use of fluorescence in firefly sensory ecology [20]. However, the data collected here may help in identifying and classifying fireflies in the future.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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A Description and Examination of Fluorescence in Nine North American Firefly Species (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

Wilcox

2021

Psyche: A Journal of Entomology

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Fluorescence across the family Lampyridae has been documented sporadically but not comprehensively in formal research. Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), best known for their bioluminescence, are also fluorescent. This fluorescence has been documented in several genera within the clade but is still an often overlooked aspect of firefly physiology in the common understanding of the species. To this end, the purpose of this study was to document and describe the fluorescence in nine species of North American fireflies, across three genera. Each species was photographed and a description of the fluorescent pattern was provided, as well as measurements of the specific spectral sensitivity of the fluorescent excitation and emission wavelengths. These data are intended to provide an identification guide of sorts to different firefly fluorescence, as well as documenting definitively its presence in several firefly genera.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…is is key, along with behavioral observations, in determining whether fluorescence is a selected-for trait or merely incidental to an organism's chemical processes [18,20]. Such an endeavor is beyond the scope of this study, but going forward this is an important avenue of research in firefly ecology.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

A Description and Examination of Fluorescence in Nine North American Firefly Species (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

Wilcox

2021

Psyche: A Journal of Entomology

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“…The isolation and structure resolution of the fluorophores contained in the Polistes cocoon caps are in progress, and more samples have still to be found and collected. In-field measurements of the contribution of fluorescence emission to the reflected light under natural and modelled [48] environmental conditions are part of future work, in order to gather more insight into the potential biological relevance. They will allow us to perform a statistical study on a larger number of samples without collecting or damaging the nests.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bright green fluorescence of Asian paper wasp nests

Marcillac

Nguyen

Aracheloff

et al. 2021

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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An exceptionally bright fluorescent biomatter was discovered when exploring, with UV-A light, the nests of several oriental paper wasp species of the genus Polistes , a genus of diurnal social insects. Fluorescence spectra of the cocoon cap membranes revealed narrow emission bands in the green range of the visible spectrum. Large Stokes shifts of around 160 nm and high fluorescence quantum yields of up to 35% were measured. Transmission spectra were recorded in order to estimate the contribution of the fluorescence to the visible light transmitted through the cocoon cap membrane. The nest fluorescence of the Vietnamese wasps was compared with a European and an American species. Potential biological functions of these interesting fluorescence properties of the studied biomaterial are discussed. The discovery of this striking example of a fluorescent terrestrial biomaterial may contribute to the debate on adaptive biological functions of natural fluorescence and falls in line with the growing interest in biodiversity and bio-inspiration.

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“…Recently, species of brightly fluorescent eels have been found in the Caribbean Sea (44). Although the purpose of the biofluorescence is still up for debate (45), one purpose may be to help eels locate each other during full moon spawning events. Other proposed functions may be to aid in communication, predator avoidance, or prey attraction.…”

Section: Visual Communication Using Fluorescencementioning

confidence: 99%

Translucent soft robots driven by frameless fluid electrode dielectric elastomer actuators

et al. 2018

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Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are a promising enabling technology for a wide range of emerging applications, including robotics, artificial muscles, and microfluidics. This is due to their large actuation strains, rapid response rate, low cost and low noise, high energy density, and high efficiency when compared with alternative actuators. These properties make DEAs ideal for the actuation of soft submersible devices, although their use has been limited because of three main challenges: (i) developing suitable, compliant electrode materials; (ii) the need to effectively insulate the actuator electrodes from the surrounding fluid; and (iii) the rigid frames typically required to prestrain the dielectric layers. We explored the use of a frameless, submersible DEA design that uses an internal chamber filled with liquid as one of the electrodes and the surrounding environmental liquid as the second electrode, thus simplifying the implementation of soft, actuated submersible devices. We demonstrated the feasibility of this approach with a prototype swimming robot composed of transparent bimorph actuator segments and inspired by transparent eel larvae, leptocephali. This design achieved undulatory swimming with a maximum forward swimming speed of 1.9 millimeters per second and a Froude efficiency of 52%. We also demonstrated the capability for camouflage and display through the body of the robot, which has an average transmittance of 94% across the visible spectrum, similar to a leptocephalus. These results suggest a potential for DEAs with fluid electrodes to serve as artificial muscles for quiet, translucent, swimming soft robots for applications including surveillance and the unobtrusive study of marine life.

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Method for Determining the Contribution of Fluorescence to an Optical Signature, with Implications for Postulating a Visual Function

Cited by 15 publications

References 27 publications

A Description and Examination of Fluorescence in Nine North American Firefly Species (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

A Description and Examination of Fluorescence in Nine North American Firefly Species (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

Bright green fluorescence of Asian paper wasp nests

Translucent soft robots driven by frameless fluid electrode dielectric elastomer actuators

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