Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 77-93 |
| Journal | Brain, Behavior and Evolution |
| Volume | 85 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 6 Mar 2015 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2015 |
Fingerprint
Cite this
}
Spectral tuning in the eyes of deep-sea lanternfishes (Myctophidae): A novel sexually dimorphic intra-ocular filter. / De Busserolles, Fanny; Hart, Nathan; Hunt, David; Davies, Wayne; Marshall, N.J.; Clarke, Michael; Hahne, Dorothee; Collin, Shaun.
In: Brain, Behavior and Evolution, Vol. 85, No. 2, 05.2015, p. 77-93.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Spectral tuning in the eyes of deep-sea lanternfishes (Myctophidae): A novel sexually dimorphic intra-ocular filter
AU - De Busserolles, Fanny
AU - Hart, Nathan
AU - Hunt, David
AU - Davies, Wayne
AU - Marshall, N.J.
AU - Clarke, Michael
AU - Hahne, Dorothee
AU - Collin, Shaun
PY - 2015/5
Y1 - 2015/5
N2 - © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel. Deep-sea fishes possess several adaptations to facilitate vision where light detection is pushed to its limit. Lanternfishes (Myctophidae), one of the world's most abundant groups of mesopelagic fishes, possess a novel and unique visual specialisation, a sexually dimorphic photostable yellow pigmentation, constituting the first record of a visual sexual dimorphism in any non-primate vertebrate. The topographic distribution of the yellow pigmentation across the retina is species specific, varying in location, shape and size. Spectrophotometric analyses reveal that this new retinal specialisation differs between species in terms of composition and acts as a filter, absorbing maximally between 356 and 443 nm. Microspectrophotometry and molecular analyses indicate that the species containing this pigmentation also possess at least 2 spectrally distinct rod visual pigments as a result of a duplication of the Rh1 opsin gene. After modelling the effect of the yellow pigmentation on photoreceptor spectral sensitivity, we suggest that this unique specialisation acts as a filter to enhance contrast, thereby improving the detection of bioluminescent emissions and possibly fluorescence in the extreme environment of the deep sea. The fact that this yellow pigmentation is species specific, sexually dimorphic and isolated within specific parts of the retina indicates an evolutionary pressure to visualise prey/predators/mates in a particular part of each species' visual field.
AB - © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel. Deep-sea fishes possess several adaptations to facilitate vision where light detection is pushed to its limit. Lanternfishes (Myctophidae), one of the world's most abundant groups of mesopelagic fishes, possess a novel and unique visual specialisation, a sexually dimorphic photostable yellow pigmentation, constituting the first record of a visual sexual dimorphism in any non-primate vertebrate. The topographic distribution of the yellow pigmentation across the retina is species specific, varying in location, shape and size. Spectrophotometric analyses reveal that this new retinal specialisation differs between species in terms of composition and acts as a filter, absorbing maximally between 356 and 443 nm. Microspectrophotometry and molecular analyses indicate that the species containing this pigmentation also possess at least 2 spectrally distinct rod visual pigments as a result of a duplication of the Rh1 opsin gene. After modelling the effect of the yellow pigmentation on photoreceptor spectral sensitivity, we suggest that this unique specialisation acts as a filter to enhance contrast, thereby improving the detection of bioluminescent emissions and possibly fluorescence in the extreme environment of the deep sea. The fact that this yellow pigmentation is species specific, sexually dimorphic and isolated within specific parts of the retina indicates an evolutionary pressure to visualise prey/predators/mates in a particular part of each species' visual field.
U2 - 10.1159/000371652
DO - 10.1159/000371652
M3 - Article
VL - 85
SP - 77
EP - 93
JO - Brain Behavior and Evolution
JF - Brain Behavior and Evolution
SN - 0006-8977
IS - 2
ER -