Red vision in animals is broadly associated with lighting environment but not types of visual task
Abstract Red sensitivity is the exception rather than the norm in most animal groups. Among species with red sensitivity, there is substantial variation in the peak wavelength sensitivity (λmax) of the long wavelength sensitive (LWS) photoreceptor. It is unclear whether this variation can be explain...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10899 |
| _version_ | 1797290876245901312 |
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| author | Bryony M. Margetts Devi Stuart‐Fox Amanda M. Franklin |
| author_facet | Bryony M. Margetts Devi Stuart‐Fox Amanda M. Franklin |
| author_sort | Bryony M. Margetts |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Red sensitivity is the exception rather than the norm in most animal groups. Among species with red sensitivity, there is substantial variation in the peak wavelength sensitivity (λmax) of the long wavelength sensitive (LWS) photoreceptor. It is unclear whether this variation can be explained by visual tuning to the light environment or to visual tasks such as signalling or foraging. Here, we examine long wavelength sensitivity across a broad range of taxa showing diversity in LWS photoreceptor λmax: insects, crustaceans, arachnids, amphibians, reptiles, fish, sharks and rays. We collated a list of 161 species with physiological evidence for a photoreceptor sensitive to red wavelengths (i.e. λmax ≥ 550 nm) and for each species documented abiotic and biotic factors that may be associated with peak sensitivity of the LWS photoreceptor. We found evidence supporting visual tuning to the light environment: terrestrial species had longer λmax than aquatic species, and of these, species from turbid shallow waters had longer λmax than those from clear or deep waters. Of the terrestrial species, diurnal species had longer λmax than nocturnal species, but we did not detect any differences across terrestrial habitats (closed, intermediate or open). We found no association with proxies for visual tasks such as having red morphological features or utilising flowers or coral reefs. These results support the emerging consensus that, in general, visual systems are broadly adapted to the lighting environment and diverse visual tasks. Links between visual systems and specific visual tasks are commonly reported, but these likely vary among species and do not lead to general patterns across species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:28:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ad00a6b51fd41098d84684dfe322e6d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:28:35Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ad00a6b51fd41098d84684dfe322e6d2024-02-29T08:56:39ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-02-01142n/an/a10.1002/ece3.10899Red vision in animals is broadly associated with lighting environment but not types of visual taskBryony M. Margetts0Devi Stuart‐Fox1Amanda M. Franklin2School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria AustraliaSchool of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria AustraliaSchool of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria AustraliaAbstract Red sensitivity is the exception rather than the norm in most animal groups. Among species with red sensitivity, there is substantial variation in the peak wavelength sensitivity (λmax) of the long wavelength sensitive (LWS) photoreceptor. It is unclear whether this variation can be explained by visual tuning to the light environment or to visual tasks such as signalling or foraging. Here, we examine long wavelength sensitivity across a broad range of taxa showing diversity in LWS photoreceptor λmax: insects, crustaceans, arachnids, amphibians, reptiles, fish, sharks and rays. We collated a list of 161 species with physiological evidence for a photoreceptor sensitive to red wavelengths (i.e. λmax ≥ 550 nm) and for each species documented abiotic and biotic factors that may be associated with peak sensitivity of the LWS photoreceptor. We found evidence supporting visual tuning to the light environment: terrestrial species had longer λmax than aquatic species, and of these, species from turbid shallow waters had longer λmax than those from clear or deep waters. Of the terrestrial species, diurnal species had longer λmax than nocturnal species, but we did not detect any differences across terrestrial habitats (closed, intermediate or open). We found no association with proxies for visual tasks such as having red morphological features or utilising flowers or coral reefs. These results support the emerging consensus that, in general, visual systems are broadly adapted to the lighting environment and diverse visual tasks. Links between visual systems and specific visual tasks are commonly reported, but these likely vary among species and do not lead to general patterns across species.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10899light environmentlong wavelength sensitivityred visionvisual ecology |
| spellingShingle | Bryony M. Margetts Devi Stuart‐Fox Amanda M. Franklin Red vision in animals is broadly associated with lighting environment but not types of visual task Ecology and Evolution light environment long wavelength sensitivity red vision visual ecology |
| title | Red vision in animals is broadly associated with lighting environment but not types of visual task |
| title_full | Red vision in animals is broadly associated with lighting environment but not types of visual task |
| title_fullStr | Red vision in animals is broadly associated with lighting environment but not types of visual task |
| title_full_unstemmed | Red vision in animals is broadly associated with lighting environment but not types of visual task |
| title_short | Red vision in animals is broadly associated with lighting environment but not types of visual task |
| title_sort | red vision in animals is broadly associated with lighting environment but not types of visual task |
| topic | light environment long wavelength sensitivity red vision visual ecology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10899 |
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