The spectral sensitivities of identified receptors and the function of retinal tiering in the principal eyes of a jumping spider

a b s t r a c tWeaponry and color badges are commonly theorized to function as visual signals of aggressiveness or fighting ability. However, few studies have supported a signaling function of weaponry, and the role of color in invertebrate competitive interactions remains virtually unexplored. Jumping spiders (Salticidae) make excellent invertebrate models for studying weaponry and color because males of many species are colorful and possess exaggerated chelicerae, which are used as weapons in escalated contests. To determine whether color or weaponry might function as visual signals in male-male competitions, we investigated relationships between contest success, cheliceral length, and red coloration in Lyssomanes viridis. Males having longer chelicerae than their opponents were significantly more likely to win (p = 0.0008). Males who won, despite being smaller than their opponents, had significantly less red chelicerae than their opponents (p = 0.01). Male and female cheliceral length, as well as foreleg length, correlated tightly with body size. Cheliceral and foreleg length showed significantly stronger positive allometry in males than in females. We conclude that male chelicerae and forelegs are under strong positive selection for their use in physical fights and/or as visual signals of fighting ability.

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“…'prosoma diameter.'. 370 and 525 nm) in Phidippus reqius, and Blest et al (1981) found two (at 360 and 520 nm) in Plexippus validus.…”

Section: Photographic Measurements Of Size and Colormentioning

confidence: 81%

Weaponry, color, and contest success in the jumping spider Lyssomanes viridis

Tedore

Johnsen

2012

Behavioural Processes

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“…For example, it has become clear that these spectral sensitivities (given the location of the respective cells) would not allow compensation for lens chromatic aberration, as it has been suggested for the anteromedian eyes of jumping spiders (Blest et al, 1981;Land, 1969). Here, photoreceptor tiers closer to the lens are sensitive to the more strongly refracted, shorter wavelengths, whereas deeper photoreceptor layers are excited by the less-refracted, longer wavelengths.…”

Section: Functional Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spectral sensitivity of the principal eyes of sunburst diving beetle, Thermonectus marmoratus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), larvae

Maksimovic

Layne

Buschbeck

2011

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYThe principal eyes of sunburst diving beetle, Thermonectus marmoratus, larvae are among the most unusual eyes in the animal kingdom. They are composed of long tubes connecting bifocal lenses with two retinas: a distal retina situated a few hundred micrometers behind the lens, and a proximal retina that is situated directly beneath. A recent molecular study on first instar larvae suggests that the distal retina expresses a long-wavelength-sensitive opsin (TmLW), whereas the proximal retina predominantly expresses an ultraviolet-sensitive opsin (TmUV II). Using cloning and in situ hybridization we here confirm that this opsin distribution is, for the most part, maintained in third instar larvae (with the exception of the TmUV I that is weakly expressed only in proximal retinas of first instar larvae). We furthermore use intracellular electrophysiological recordings and neurobiotin injections to determine the spectral sensitivity of individual photoreceptor cells. We find that photoreceptors of the proximal retina have a sensitivity curve that peaks at 374-375nm. The shape of the curve is consistent with the predicted absorbance of a singleopsin template. The spectral response of photoreceptors from the distal retina confirms their maximum sensitivity to green light with the dominant -peak between 520 and 540nm, and the secondary -peak between 340 and 360nm. These physiological measurements support molecular predictions and represent important steps towards understanding the functional organization of the unusual stemmata of T. marmoratus larvae.

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“…It is also known that a few species of salticids can distinguish colours (Homann, 1928;Nakamura and Yamashita, 2000) and have UV photoreceptors in their eyes (DeVoe, 1975;Yamashita and Tateda, 1976;Blest et al, 1981;Peaslee and Wilson, 1989). Electrophysiological experiments, including experiments based on intracellular recordings from individual photoreceptor cells in the principal-eye retina, have revealed that four species of salticids have UV-sensitive photoreceptor cells in the retina, with peak sensitivity in the range of 330-380nm: Phidippus regius (DeVoe, 1975), Menemerus fulvus (formerly confuses) (Yamashita and Tateda, 1976), Plexippus validus (Blest et al, 1981) and Maevia inclemens (Peaslee and Wilson, 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Electrophysiological experiments, including experiments based on intracellular recordings from individual photoreceptor cells in the principal-eye retina, have revealed that four species of salticids have UV-sensitive photoreceptor cells in the retina, with peak sensitivity in the range of 330-380nm: Phidippus regius (DeVoe, 1975), Menemerus fulvus (formerly confuses) (Yamashita and Tateda, 1976), Plexippus validus (Blest et al, 1981) and Maevia inclemens (Peaslee and Wilson, 1989). The existence of opsin gene Rh3 also suggests the likelihood of UV sensitivity in Hasarius adansoni and Plexippus paykulli (Koyanagi et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spectral transmission of the principal-eye corneas of jumping spiders: implications for ultraviolet vision

et al. 2012

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYUltraviolet (UV) vision plays an important role in interspecific and intraspecific communication in many animals. However, UV vision and its adaptive significance have been investigated in only approximately 1% of more than 5000 species of jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae), renowned for their unique, complex eyes that support exceptional spatial acuity and visually based behaviour. To appreciate the adaptive significance of UV vision, it is important to establish whether salticids can perceive UV and whether the perception of UV varies with ecological factors such as light environment. In this study, we measured the UVtransmission properties of the principal-eye corneas of 128 salticid species. We found that the corneas of all measured species were able to transmit UV light, making the perception of UV possible. Three classes of corneal spectral transmission curves were identified; the majority of species had a Class II curve with a less-steep slope and a gradual onset of the transmission cut-off; all the remaining species had a Class I curve with a very steep slope and a sharp cut-off except for one species that had a Class III curve with an intermediate step, which appeared as a shoulder on the descending part of the transmission curve. The T 50 cut-off transmission values (the wavelength at which 50% of the maximum transmission is reached) in salticid corneas vary with species and light habitat. The corneas of species inhabiting open bush had a higher relative transmission at short wavelengths in the UV than forest species. This is the first investigation of corneal transmission in spiders and suggests that UV perception is widespread in salticids.

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The spectral sensitivities of identified receptors and the function of retinal tiering in the principal eyes of a jumping spider

Cited by 129 publications

References 20 publications

Weaponry, color, and contest success in the jumping spider Lyssomanes viridis

Weaponry, color, and contest success in the jumping spider Lyssomanes viridis

Spectral sensitivity of the principal eyes of sunburst diving beetle, Thermonectus marmoratus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), larvae

Spectral transmission of the principal-eye corneas of jumping spiders: implications for ultraviolet vision

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