Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/2440/11885
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Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Polarized light detection in spiders |
Author: | Dacke, M. Doan, T. O'Carroll, D. |
Citation: | The Journal of Experimental Biology, 2001; 204(14):2481-2490 |
Publisher: | Company of Biologists Ltd |
Issue Date: | 2001 |
ISSN: | 0022-0949 1477-9145 |
Statement of Responsibility: | Marie Dacke, Thuy A. Doan and David C. O’Carroll |
Abstract: | We describe here the detection of polarized light by the simple eyes of spiders. Using behavioural, morphological, electrophysiological and optical studies, we show that spiders have evolved two different mechanisms to resolve the e-vector of light. Wolf spiders (Lycosidae), are able to turn in response to rotation of a polarized pattern at the zenith of their visual fields, and we also describe a strip in the ventral retina of the principal (anterio-median) eyes that views this location and has receptors tiered into two layers. This provides each pair of receptors with a similar optical solution to that provided by the ‘dorsal rim area’ of the insect compound eye. In contrast, gnaphosid spiders have evolved a pair of lensless secondary eyes for the detection of polarized light. These two eyes, each sensitive to orthogonal directions of polarization, are perfectly designed to integrate signals from the larger part of the sky and cooperate to analyse the polarization of light. Built-in polarizers help to improve signal purity. Similar organisation in the eyes of several other spider families suggests that these two mechanisms are not restricted to only a few families. |
Keywords: | polarized light detection simple eye spider vision retinal tiering |
Description: | Copyright © 2001 The Company of Biologists |
DOI: | 10.1242/jeb.204.14.2481 |
Published version: | http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/full/204/14/2481 |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest 7 Physiology publications |
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