A revised model of visual range in fish

Abstract

Abstract Models of visual range and location distances are crucial for quantification of vision based feeding opportunities and predation risk in the pelagic habitat. We compare an earlier published model with measurements of the reactive distance of Gobiusculus flavescens relative to two species of copepods. Although this model gave reasonable predictions at low light intensities, the measurements of reactive distance at higher intensities were much lower than those predicted by the model. We modified the model to account for saturation at high light intensities. With this additional feature, the correspondence with the G.flavescens observations was significantly improved. Furthermore, the revised model is consistent with earlier published data on fish contrast thresholds obtained over a wide range of target sizes and irradiance levels. Given the values of only two parameters, one sensitivity threshold and one saturation parameter, the model is capable of predicting visual ranges for relatively large intervals of light intensity, prey size and turbidity. Other published visual range models are briefly reviewed and compared with our model.