UV Transmission in Animal Vision: Insights from Microspectrophotometry

UV Transmission in Animal Vision: Insights from Microspectrophotometry

The natural world teems with colors and patterns, many of which are imperceptible to human eyes. Yet, for numerous animals, ultraviolet (UV) light is a critical part of their vision system. From birds to insects, UV sensitivity aids in communication, predator detection, and mating. One of the leading tools for studying UV light and its role in animal vision is microspectrophotometry, a technique that has provided valuable insights into the function of ocular tissues and photoreceptors. This blog explores how microspectrophotometry advances our understanding of UV transmission and animal vision, focusing on research conducted with spiders as an example.

The Importance of UV Light in Animal Vision

Many animals have developed the ability to see in the UV spectrum, allowing them to detect light waves below 400 nm, which are invisible to humans. This sensitivity to UV light enhances various behaviors such as:

  • Mate selection: Some animals display UV-reflective patches to attract potential mates.
  • Foraging: UV markings on flowers guide pollinators to nectar.
  • Predator avoidance: UV detection can help some species identify predators camouflaged in visible light.

Recent research on jumping spiders (Habronattus pyrethrin) has used microspectrophotometry to reveal how these creatures’ eyes filter and process UV light, demonstrating the importance of UV vision in animal behavior and ecology.

What Is Microspectrophotometry?

Microspectrophotometry is an advanced technique used to measure the absorption, transmission, and reflection of light of microscopic sampling areas. By examining how light interacts with specific cells or tissues, microspectrophotometry allows scientists to understand the optical properties of biological materials in great detail. In the context of UV transmission and vision, microspectrophotometry is used to assess:

  • Lens and vitreous media transmission: These ocular structures filter and transmit light to the retina, with varying efficiency across different wavelengths, including UV.
  • Photoreceptor sensitivity: Microspectrophotometry helps identify how photoreceptors in animals’ eyes respond to UV and visible light, revealing differences in color vision mechanisms across species.

Case Study: UV Vision in Jumping Spiders

In the 2015 study by Zurek and Morehouse, microspectrophotometry was applied to investigate the UV vision of Habronattus pyrrithrix, a species of jumping spider. This spider uses its UV-sensitive eyes to detect and differentiate between colors, which plays a crucial role in courtship displays and predator detection​.

Lens and Vitreous Media Transmission

The study found that the principal eye’s corneal lens has a high transmission rate for long wavelengths, with approximately 50% of UV light at 320 nm passing through the lens. Interestingly, the vitreous medium, the jelly-like substance within the eye, was even more transparent across the UV spectrum. These findings indicated that both the lens and vitreous body in the jumping spider’s eye are optimized to transmit UV light efficiently​.

Photoreceptor Absorbance

Using microspectrophotometry, the researchers were able to isolate and measure the absorbance of photoreceptors in the retina. The jumping spider has multiple types of photoreceptors, some of which are highly sensitive to UV light. This ability to detect UV light is particularly advantageous for Habronattus pyrrithrix during courtship, as males display UV-reflective patches to attract females. The study further simulated color discriminability under UV vision, revealing how trichromatic vision (UV, green, and red sensitivity) enables spiders to perceive subtle differences in coloration that are undetectable by humans​.

Applications of Microspectrophotometry in UV Transmission Studies

Microspectrophotometry is not only useful for spiders but also for a broad range of species. Birds, reptiles, and fish often have UV-sensitive vision, and microspectrophotometry plays a critical role in studying these systems. Here are a few examples of how microspectrophotometry is used across different animal groups:

  • Birds: Many bird species have UV-reflective plumage that plays a role in mate attraction. Microspectrophotometry can determine how specific wavelengths of UV light are transmitted through feathers and detected by birds' UV-sensitive photoreceptors.
  • Insects: Pollinators like bees use UV patterns on flowers to locate food sources. Microspectrophotometry allows researchers to measure how insect eyes absorb UV light and distinguish between different flower species based on UV markings.
  • Fish: Some fish have evolved to see UV light in murky water environments where other light wavelengths are scattered or absorbed. Microspectrophotometry can be used to map the UV transmission characteristics of aquatic environments and study the adaptation of fish eyes to these conditions.

The Future of UV Vision Research

As our understanding of UV vision expands, microspectrophotometry will continue to be a pivotal tool. Future studies may focus on how animals use UV light in low-light environments or how UV vision has evolved across different species. Microspectrophotometry's ability to capture the nuances of UV transmission at the cellular level enables researchers to explore how even minute differences in UV sensitivity can influence animal behavior, survival, and evolution.

Closing Thoughts

Microspectrophotometry provides a window into the invisible world of UV light, revealing how animals like jumping spiders perceive their environment in ways that humans cannot. By measuring the transmission of UV light through lenses and vitreous media, and mapping the absorbance of UV-sensitive photoreceptors, microspectrophotometry has uncovered crucial aspects of animal vision. This technology offers exciting potential for future research on a wide range of species, contributing to our broader understanding of visual ecology and evolution. As microspectrophotometry technology advances, it will undoubtedly continue to unveil the intricate visual systems that govern animal behavior in the UV spectrum.


References & Further Reading

  1. Zurek, Daniel & Cronin, Thomas & Taylor, Lisa & Byrne, Kevin & Sullivan, Mara & Morehouse, Nathan. (2015). Zurek Morehouse 2015 Supplement.
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