Eye-size variability in deep-sea lanternfishes (Myctophidae): an ecological and phylogenetic study.
One of the most common visual adaptations seen in the mesopelagic zone (200-1000 m), where the amount of light diminishes exponentially with depth and where bioluminescent organisms predominate, is the enlargement of the eye and pupil area. However, it remains unclear how eye size is influenced by d...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2013-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3589346?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1818142314270294016 |
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| author | Fanny de Busserolles John L Fitzpatrick John R Paxton N Justin Marshall Shaun P Collin |
| author_facet | Fanny de Busserolles John L Fitzpatrick John R Paxton N Justin Marshall Shaun P Collin |
| author_sort | Fanny de Busserolles |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | One of the most common visual adaptations seen in the mesopelagic zone (200-1000 m), where the amount of light diminishes exponentially with depth and where bioluminescent organisms predominate, is the enlargement of the eye and pupil area. However, it remains unclear how eye size is influenced by depth, other environmental conditions and phylogeny. In this study, we determine the factors influencing variability in eye size and assess whether this variability is explained by ecological differences in habitat and lifestyle within a family of mesopelagic fishes characterized by broad intra- and interspecific variance in depth range and luminous patterns. We focus our study on the lanternfish family (Myctophidae) and hypothesise that lanternfishes with a deeper distribution and/or a reduction of bioluminescent emissions have smaller eyes and that ecological factors rather than phylogenetic relationships will drive the evolution of the visual system. Eye diameter and standard length were measured in 237 individuals from 61 species of lanternfishes representing all the recognised tribes within the family in addition to compiling an ecological dataset including depth distribution during night and day and the location and sexual dimorphism of luminous organs. Hypotheses were tested by investigating the relationship between the relative size of the eye (corrected for body size) and variations in depth and/or patterns of luminous-organs using phylogenetic comparative analyses. Results show a great variability in relative eye size within the Myctophidae at all taxonomic levels (from subfamily to genus), suggesting that this character may have evolved several times. However, variability in eye size within the family could not be explained by any of our ecological variables (bioluminescence and depth patterns), and appears to be driven solely by phylogenetic relationships. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:13:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-95f9f397327e4d8a9dc07a5696c6d6ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:13:48Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-95f9f397327e4d8a9dc07a5696c6d6ef2022-12-22T01:09:25ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-0183e5851910.1371/journal.pone.0058519Eye-size variability in deep-sea lanternfishes (Myctophidae): an ecological and phylogenetic study.Fanny de BusserollesJohn L FitzpatrickJohn R PaxtonN Justin MarshallShaun P CollinOne of the most common visual adaptations seen in the mesopelagic zone (200-1000 m), where the amount of light diminishes exponentially with depth and where bioluminescent organisms predominate, is the enlargement of the eye and pupil area. However, it remains unclear how eye size is influenced by depth, other environmental conditions and phylogeny. In this study, we determine the factors influencing variability in eye size and assess whether this variability is explained by ecological differences in habitat and lifestyle within a family of mesopelagic fishes characterized by broad intra- and interspecific variance in depth range and luminous patterns. We focus our study on the lanternfish family (Myctophidae) and hypothesise that lanternfishes with a deeper distribution and/or a reduction of bioluminescent emissions have smaller eyes and that ecological factors rather than phylogenetic relationships will drive the evolution of the visual system. Eye diameter and standard length were measured in 237 individuals from 61 species of lanternfishes representing all the recognised tribes within the family in addition to compiling an ecological dataset including depth distribution during night and day and the location and sexual dimorphism of luminous organs. Hypotheses were tested by investigating the relationship between the relative size of the eye (corrected for body size) and variations in depth and/or patterns of luminous-organs using phylogenetic comparative analyses. Results show a great variability in relative eye size within the Myctophidae at all taxonomic levels (from subfamily to genus), suggesting that this character may have evolved several times. However, variability in eye size within the family could not be explained by any of our ecological variables (bioluminescence and depth patterns), and appears to be driven solely by phylogenetic relationships.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3589346?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Fanny de Busserolles John L Fitzpatrick John R Paxton N Justin Marshall Shaun P Collin Eye-size variability in deep-sea lanternfishes (Myctophidae): an ecological and phylogenetic study. PLoS ONE |
| title | Eye-size variability in deep-sea lanternfishes (Myctophidae): an ecological and phylogenetic study. |
| title_full | Eye-size variability in deep-sea lanternfishes (Myctophidae): an ecological and phylogenetic study. |
| title_fullStr | Eye-size variability in deep-sea lanternfishes (Myctophidae): an ecological and phylogenetic study. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eye-size variability in deep-sea lanternfishes (Myctophidae): an ecological and phylogenetic study. |
| title_short | Eye-size variability in deep-sea lanternfishes (Myctophidae): an ecological and phylogenetic study. |
| title_sort | eye size variability in deep sea lanternfishes myctophidae an ecological and phylogenetic study |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3589346?pdf=render |
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