Ultraviolet photoreception in mantis shrimp

Bok

2016

Self Cite

150

128

Ultraviolet (UV) light occupies the spectral range of wavelengths slightly shorter than those visible to humans. Because of its shorter wavelength, it is more energetic (and potentially more photodamaging) than 'visible light', and it is scattered more efficiently in air and water. Until 1990, only a few animals were recognized as being sensitive to UV light, but we now know that a great diversity, possibly even the majority, of animal species can visually detect and respond to it. Here, we discuss the history of research on biological UV photosensitivity and review current major research trends in this field. Some animals use their UV photoreceptors to control simple, innate behaviors, but most incorporate their UV receptors into their general sense of vision. They not only detect UV light but recognize it as a separate color in light fields, on natural objects or living organisms, or in signals displayed by conspecifics. UV visual pigments are based on opsins, the same family of proteins that are used to detect light in conventional photoreceptors. Despite some interesting exceptions, most animal species have a single photoreceptor class devoted to the UV. The roles of UV in vision are manifold, from guiding navigation and orientation behavior, to detecting food and potential predators, to supporting high-level tasks such as mate assessment and intraspecific communication. Our current understanding of UV vision is restricted almost entirely to two phyla: arthropods and chordates (specifically, vertebrates), so there is much comparative work to be done.

Section: Spectral Tuning Of Uv Opsinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photoreception and vision in the ultraviolet

Bok

2016

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150

128

“…Using previously published photopigment absorption data for P. litoralis (at peak densities of 0.008 per µm), together with known rhabdom lengths and diameters (see Jutte et al, 1998), we generated sensitivity curves for all eight receptor classes (see Cronin et al, 1994dCronin et al, , 2002b Absorbance spectra for Pullosquilla litoralis intrarhabdomal filters from each of the three light treatments. Each spectrum is normalized to its peak.…”

Section: Environmental Radiometrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, members of both superfamilies have specialized apposition compound eyes that include a central midband composed of six rows of large faceted ommatidia (Harling, 2000;Manning et al, 1984;Marshall, 1988). A total of 10 spectral classes of photoreceptors operating at wavelengths of >400 nm exists in this midband area (Cronin and Marshall, 1989b;Marshall et al, 1994), plus four or more additional ultraviolet classes (Cronin et al, 1994d;Marshall and Oberwinkler, 1999). Within the ommatidial midband, Rows 1-4 are believed to be responsible for color vision in both gonodactyloid and lysiosquilloid stomatopods (Cronin et al, 1993(Cronin et al, , 1994cMarshall et al, 1996).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptive color vision in Pullosquilla litoralis (Stomatopoda,Lysiosquilloidea) associated with spectral and intensity changes in light environment

Cheroske

Caldwell

2003

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Some stomatopod crustacean species that inhabit a range of habitat depths have color vision systems that adapt to changes in ambient light conditions. To date, this change in retinal function has been demonstrated in species within the superfamily Gonodactyloidea in response to varying the spectral range of light. Intrarhabdomal filters in certain ommatidia within the specialized midband of the eye change spectrally, modifying the sensitivity of underlying photoreceptors to match the spectrum of available light. In the present study, we utilized Pullosquilla litoralis, a member of the superfamily Lysiosquilloidea that also has a wide depth range. Individuals were placed within one of three light treatments: (1) full-spectrum, high-intensity 'white' light, (2) narrow-spectrum 'blue' light and (3) full-spectrum, reduced-intensity 'gray' light. After 3 months, the intrarhabdomal filters in Row 3 ommatidia of the midband in blue-and gray-light-treated animals were short-wavelength shifted by 10-20 nm compared with homologous filters in animals in white-light treatments. These spectral changes increase the relative sensitivity of associated photoreceptors in animals that inhabit environments where light spectral range or intensity is reduced. The adaptable color vision system of stomatopods may allow animals to make the best use of the ambient light occurring at their habitat regardless of depth. The major controlling element of the plasticity in lysiosquilloid stomatopod color vision appears to be light intensity rather than spectral distribution.

“…MSP was carried out according to methods described previously (Cronin, 1985;Cronin et al, 1994c), with modifications to the system to maximize the spectral range of UV wavelengths directed through the crystalline cones for measurement as described in Bok et al (2014). We were able to obtain smooth and consistent absorbance spectra between 300 and 550 nm using this setup.…”

Section: Mspmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Analyses of main rhabdom photoreceptors have shown that their visual pigment absorbance spectra are fairly invariant in comparison to the colored filters in those ommatidia . Electrophysiological and MSP studies of the R8s have also suggested conservation in visual pigment absorbance spectra among species (Bok, 2013;Cronin et al, 1994c;Kleinlogel, 2004;Kleinlogel and Marshall, 2009;Thoen et al, 2014).…”

Section: Mspmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultraviolet filters in stomatopod crustaceans: diversity, ecology, and evolution

Bok

Porter

2015

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Stomatopod crustaceans employ unique ultraviolet (UV) optical filters in order to tune the spectral sensitivities of their UV-sensitive photoreceptors. In the stomatopod species Neogonodactylus oerstedii, we previously found four filter types, produced by five distinct mycosporine-like amino acid pigments in the crystalline cones of their specialized midband ommatidial facets. This UV-spectral tuning array produces receptors with at least six distinct spectral sensitivities, despite expressing only two visual pigments. Here, we present a broad survey of these UV filters across the stomatopod order, examining their spectral absorption properties in 21 species from seven families in four superfamilies. We found that UV filters are present in three of the four superfamilies, and evolutionary character reconstruction implies that at least one class of UV filter was present in the ancestor of all modern stomatopods. Additionally, postlarval stomatopods were observed to produce the UV filters simultaneously alongside development of the adult eye. The absorbance properties of the filters are consistent within a species; however, between species we found a great deal of diversity, both in the number of filters and in their spectral absorbance characteristics. This diversity correlates with the habitat depth ranges of these species, suggesting that species living in shallow, UV-rich environments may tune their UV spectral sensitivities more aggressively. We also found additional, previously unrecognized UV filter types in the crystalline cones of the peripheral eye regions of some species, indicating the possibility for even greater stomatopod visual complexity than previously thought.