Polarized Light in Animal Vision: Polarization Patterns in NatureWhile the human eye can practically cope only with two aspects of light, brightness and colour, for many animals polarization is a further source of visual information. This fascinating phenomenon of polarization sensitivity is comprehensively treated by Horvath and Varju. Starting with a short introduction into imaging polarimetry - an efficient technique for measuring light polarization - various polarization patterns occurring in nature are presented. Among them are the polarizational characteristics of water surfaces, mirages and the underwater light field as well as the celestial polarization patterns affected by the illumination conditions of sunrise, sunset, clear or cloudy skies, moonshine and total solar eclipses. The major part of the book is dedicated to the question: How can animals perceive and use the natural and artificial polarization patterns? Following a detailed compendium of the physiological basis of polarization sensitivity, several case studies of animal behaviour determined or influenced by polarization are presented. It is shown how arial, terrestrial and aquatic animals use the celestial and underwater polarization for orientation, e. g. how polarized light serves honeybees or ants as a compass. Further, it is explained how man-made objects affecting the natural optical environment may disorientate animals. For instance, as in the case where oil or glass surfaces, asphalt roads, or plastic sheets used in agriculture can be more attractive for water-seeking polarotactic insects than the water surface, and where mayflies lay their eggs on dry asphalt roads or cars. |
Contents
Polarimetry From PointSource to Imaging Polarimeters | 3 |
12 Elements of the Stokes and Mueller Formalism of Polarization | 8 |
13 Polarimetry of Circularly Unpolarized Light by Means of Intensity Detectors | 9 |
14 PointSource Scanning and Imaging Polarimetry | 10 |
16 Colour Coding and Visualization of Polarization Patterns | 11 |
18 Polarizational Cameras | 12 |
Polarization Patterns in Nature | 13 |
SpaceBorne Measurement of Earthlight Polarization | 15 |
Oil Reservoirs and Plastic Sheets as Polarizing Insect Traps | 215 |
212 The Waste Oil Reservoir in Budapest as a Disastrous Insect Trap for Half a Century | 219 |
2121 Surface Characteristics of Waste Oil Reservoirs | 220 |
2122 Insects Trapped by the Waste Oil | 221 |
2123 Behaviour of Dragonflies Above Oil Surfaces | 222 |
213 DualChoice Field Experiments Using Huge Plastic Sheets | 223 |
214 The Possible LargeScale Hazard of Shiny Black Anthropogenic Products for Aquatic Insects | 227 |
Why Do Mayflies Lay Eggs on Dry Asphalt Roads? WaterImitating Horizontally Polarized Light Reflected from Asphalt Attracts Ephemeroptera | 229 |
Skylight Polarization | 18 |
32 Celestial Polarization Measured by Video Polarimetry in the Tunisian Desert in the UV and Green Spectral Ranges | 19 |
Principal Neutral Points of Atmospheric Polarization | 23 |
41 Video Polarimetry of the Arago Neutral Point of Skylight Polarization | 25 |
42 First Observation of the Fourth Principal Neutral Point | 27 |
24Hour Change of the Polarization Pattern of the Summer Sky North of the Arctic Circle | 32 |
Polarization Patterns of Cloudy Skies and Animal Orientation | 36 |
62 Continuation of the ClearSky Angle of Polarization Pattern Underneath Clouds | 37 |
63 Proportion of the Celestial Polarization Pattern Useful for Compass Orientation Exemplified with Crickets | 38 |
GroundBased FullSky Imaging Polarimetric Cloud Detection | 41 |
Polarization Pattern of the Moonlit Clear Night Sky at Full Moon Comparison of Moonlit and Sunlit Skies | 47 |
Imaging Polarimetry of the Rainbow | 51 |
Which Part of the Spectrum Is Optimal for Perception of Skylight Polarization? | 53 |
102 Why Do Many Insects Perceive Skylight Polarization in the UV? | 56 |
1022 Was the UV Component of Skylight Stronger in the Past? | 57 |
1023 Relatively Large Proportion of UV Radiation in Skylight? | 59 |
1024 Mistaking Skylight for GroundReflected Light? | 60 |
1026 Were UV Receptors Originally Skylight Detectors and only later Incorporated into the Evector Detecting System? | 61 |
1028 In the Spectral and Intensity Domain the Celestial Band of Maximum Polarization Is less Pronounced in the UV than in the Blue | 62 |
10210 Perception of Skylight in the UV Maximizes the Extent of the Celestial Polarization Pattern Useful for Compass Orientation under Cloudy Skies | 64 |
103 Resolution of the UVSkyPol Paradox | 68 |
104 EVector Detection in the UV also Maximizes the Proportion of the Celestial Polarization Pattern Useful for Orientation under Canopies | 69 |
105 Analogy Between Perception of Skylight Polarization and Polarotactic Water Detection Considering the Optimal Spectral Range | 71 |
107 Why Do Crickets Perceive Skylight Polarization in the Blue? | 72 |
108 Concluding Remark | 73 |
Polarization of the Sky and the Solar Corona During Total Solar Eclipses | 74 |
111 Structure of the Celestial Polarization Pattern and its Temporal Change During the Eclipse of 11 August 1999 | 75 |
112 Origin of the Evector Pattern During Totality | 78 |
113 Neutral Points of Skylight Polarization Observed During Totality | 80 |
114 Origin of the Zenith Neutral Point During Totality | 83 |
116 Imaging Polarimetry of the Solar Corona | 85 |
ReflectionPolarization Pattern of the Flat Water Surface Measured by 180 FieldofView Imaging Polarimetry | 88 |
Polarization Pattern of a Fata Morgana Why Aquatic Insects Are not Attracted by Mirages? | 92 |
Polarizational Characteristics of the Underwater World | 95 |
Circulary Polarized Light in Nature | 100 |
152 Circulary Polarized Light Reflected from the Exoskeleton of Certain Arthropods | 101 |
153 Circulary Polarized Light Emitted by Firefly Larvae | 102 |
Polarized Light in Animal Vision | 105 |
From Polarization Sensitivity to Polarization Vision | 107 |
162 Polarization Sensitivity Polarization Vision and Analysis of Polarization Patterns | 108 |
163 Functional Similarities Between Polarization Vision and Colour Vision | 111 |
164 How Can Skylight Polarization Be Used for Orientation? | 112 |
165 Possible Functions of Polarization Sensitivity | 115 |
166 How Might Polarization Sensitivity Have Evolved? | 116 |
167 Polarization Sensitivity of Rhabdomeric Invertebrate Photoreceptors | 117 |
1671 Hypothetical Polarizing Ability of the Dioptric Apparatus | 118 |
1673 Origin of High Polarization Sensitivity | 121 |
1674 Origin of Low Polarization Sensitivity | 122 |
1675 Rhabdomeric Twist and Misalignment and Their Functional Significance | 123 |
1676 Ontogenetic Development of Photoreceptor Twist Outside the Dorsal Rim Area of the Insect Eye | 124 |
1677 Characteristics of the Anatomically and Physiologically Specialized PolarizationSensitive Dorsal Rim Area in Insect Eyes | 125 |
1678 PolarizationSensitive Interneurons in Invertebrates | 128 |
169 Polarization Sensitivity in Plants | 130 |
Polarization Sensitivity in Terrestrial Insects | 131 |
172 Flies | 143 |
1723 Musca domestica Calliphora erythrocephala Calliphora stygia and Phoenicia sericata | 144 |
1724 Drosophila melanogaster | 146 |
173 Ants | 147 |
174 Crickets | 156 |
1743 Gryllus bimaculatus | 157 |
1744 Gryllus campestris | 160 |
Butterflies and Moths | 165 |
1751 Papilio xuthus | 166 |
1753 Polarized Light Reflected from Butterfly Wings as a Possible Mating Signal in Heliconius cydno chioneus | 169 |
177 Cockroaches | 172 |
178 Scarab Beetles | 173 |
179 Response of NightFlying Insects to Linearly Polarized Light | 176 |
Polarization Sensitivity in Insects Associated with Water | 178 |
181 Velia caprai | 180 |
184 Waterstrider Gerris lacustris | 181 |
185 Backswimmer Notonecta glauca | 183 |
186 Dragonflies Odonata | 188 |
187 Dolichopodids | 191 |
188 Mayflies Ephemeroptera | 192 |
1810 Insects Living on Moist Substrata or Dung | 195 |
1811 Mosquitoes | 197 |
MultipleChoice Experiments on Dragonfly Polarotaxis | 199 |
How Can Dragonflies Discern Bright and Dark Waters from a Distance? The Degree of Linear Polarization of Reflected Light as a Possible Cue for D... | 206 |
221 Swarming Behaviour of Mayflies Above Asphalt Roads | 231 |
222 MultipleChoice Experiments with Swarming Mayflies | 232 |
223 ReflectionPolarizational Characteristics of the Swarming Sites of Mayflies | 234 |
224 Mayflies Detect Water by Polarotaxis | 236 |
225 Comparison of the Attractiveness of Asphalt Roads and Water Surfaces to Mayflies | 239 |
ReflectionPolarizational Characteristics of CarBodies Why Are WaterSeeking Insects Attracted to the Bodywork of Cars? | 241 |
Polarization Sensitivity in Spiders and Scorpions | 243 |
242 Scorpions | 246 |
Polarization Sensitivity in Crustaceans | 247 |
251 Mangrove Crab Goniopsis cruentata | 249 |
253 Copepod Cyclops vernalis | 250 |
254 Larvae of the Crab Rhithropanopeus harrisi | 251 |
255 Larvae of the Mud Crab Panopeus herbstii | 252 |
256 Grapsid Crab Leptograpsus variegatus | 253 |
258 Grass Shrimp Palaemonetes vulgaris | 255 |
259 Crab Dotilla wichmanni | 257 |
2510 Water Flea Daphnia | 259 |
2511 Mantis Shrimps | 263 |
Polarization Sensitivity in Cephalopods and Marine Snails | 267 |
2612 Squids | 269 |
2613 European Cuttlefish Sepia officinalis | 272 |
262 Marine Snails | 274 |
PolarizationSensitive Optomotor Reaction in Invertebrates | 276 |
272 Honeybees | 277 |
274 Rose Chafers | 278 |
276 Optomotor Response to Over and Underwater Brightness and Polarization Patterns in the Backswimmer Notonecta glauca | 287 |
Polarization Sensitivity in Fish | 293 |
281 Fish in Which PolarizationSensitivity Was Proposed | 294 |
2812 Tropical Halfbeaks Zenarchopterus dispar and Zenarchopterus buffoni | 295 |
2813 Halfbeak Fish Dermogenys pusilus | 296 |
2814 Goldfish Carassius auratus | 297 |
2815 African Cichlid Pseudotropheus macrophthalmus | 299 |
2816 Anchovies Engraulis mordax and Anchoa mitchilli | 300 |
2817 Rainbow Trout Oncorhyncus mykiss | 301 |
2818 Juvenile Salmonid Fish Oncorhynchus tnykiss Oncorhynchus clarki clarki Oncorhynchus nerka and Salvelinus fontinalis | 306 |
282 Fish with Debated Polarization Sensitivity and Fish in Which Polarization Insensitivity Was Proposed | 307 |
2822 Common White Sucker Catostomus commersoni | 308 |
283 Possible Biophysical Basis of Fish Polarization Sensitivity | 309 |
2832 Embryonic Fissures in Fish Eyes and Their Possible Role in the Detection of Polarization | 311 |
2833 Paired Cones as a Possible Basis for Polarization Sensitivity in Fish | 312 |
28332 Proposed Basis for Polarization Sensitivity in Rainbow Trout due to Internal Reflection from the Membranous Partitions of Double Cones | 314 |
Polarization Sensitivity in Amphibians | 317 |
291 Tiger Salamander Ambystoma tigrinum | 318 |
292 RedSpotted Newt Notophthalmus viridescens | 320 |
293 Larval Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana | 321 |
294 Proposed Mechanisms of Detection of Polarization in Amphibians | 322 |
Polarization Sensitivity in Reptiles | 324 |
302 Desert Lizard Uma notata | 325 |
303 Sleepy Lizard Tiliqua rugosa | 326 |
Polarization Sensitivity in Birds | 328 |
311 Crepuscularly and Nocturnally Migrating Birds | 330 |
3112 Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis and Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus | 331 |
3113 YellowRumped Warbler Dendroica coronata | 332 |
3114 Blackcap Sylvia atrkapilla | 334 |
3115 Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis | 335 |
312 DayMigrating Birds | 340 |
313 Birds Which Might Be Polarization Insensitive or not Use Skylight Polarization in Their Migratory Orientation | 341 |
3131 Debated Polarization Sensitivity in the Homing Pigeon Columba livia | 342 |
31311 The Position of the Sun Hidden by Clouds Could also be Determined on the Basis of the Colour Gradients of Skylight Under Partly Cloudy C... | 348 |
3132 European Robin Erithacus rubecula | 349 |
3133 Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca | 350 |
314 Proposed Mechanisms of Avian Polarization Sensitivity | 351 |
3142 A Model of Polarization Detection in the Avian Retina with Oil Droplets | 353 |
Human Polarization Sensitivity | 355 |
322 Boehm Brushes | 361 |
PolarizationInduced False Colours | 362 |
332 Polarizational False Colours Perceived by Papilio Butterflies | 364 |
3322 PolarizationInduced False Colours Perceived by a Weakly PolarizationSensitive Retina | 369 |
3323 ReflectionPolarizational Characteristics of Plant Surfaces | 374 |
3324 Do PolarizationInduced False Colours Influence the Weakly PolarizationSensitive Colour Vision of Papilio Butterflies Under Natural Conditions? | 376 |
333 Polarizational False Colours Perceived by a Highly PolarizationSensitive Retina Rotating in Front of Flowers and Leaves | 377 |
334 Camouflage Breaking via PolarizationInduced False Colours and Reflection Polarization | 378 |
335 Is Colour Perception or Polarization Sensitivity the more Ancient? | 379 |
A Common Methodological Error Intensity Patterns Induced by Selective Reflection of Linearly Polarized Light from Black Surfaces | 381 |
References | 385 |
417 | |
Colour Illustrations | 425 |
Other editions - View all
Polarized Light in Animal Vision: Polarization Patterns in Nature Gábor Horváth,Dezsö Varju Limited preview - 2013 |
Polarized Light in Animal Vision: Polarization Patterns in Nature Gábor Horváth,Dezsö Varju Limited preview - 2004 |
Polarized Light in Animal Vision: Polarization Patterns in Nature Gábor Horváth,Dezsö Varju No preview available - 2010 |