The visual system in the brain of the Bogong moth - A neural substrate for visually guided nocturnal migrations?

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event The visual system in the brain of the Bogong moth - A neural substrate for visually guided nocturnal migrations? Stanley Heinze1* and Eric Warrant1 1 Lund University, Department of Biology, Sweden The Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa) is an Australian moth species that performs spectacular long-distance migrations. Each year in spring, these animals fly southwards for over a thousand kilometers to pinpoint small caves in the mountains of southeastern Australia. After aestivating inside these cool caves, they reverse their migration direction and return northwards to their tropical breeding grounds. Unlike other migratory insects like the monarch butterfly the nocturnal Bogong moth carries out its spectacular behavior during the night. As day-active species use skylight compass cues like the sun and the polarization pattern of the blue sky to guide their migrations, we ask whether the Bogong moth exploits a similar strategy by utilizing visual cues of the nocturnal sky, or has evolved a different mechanism that does not rely on dim skylight cues. To explore the possibility of visually guided migrations in the Bogong moth, we performed immunocytochemical labeling of its brain. Using antibodies against synaptic markers, we were able to describe the general layout of the Bogong moth brain and all its major neuropils. While the overall neuroarchitecture resembles that of other lepidopteran brains, we also observed several distinguishing features: First, the optic lobes (OL) were substantially smaller compared to other migratory insects. Second, the central complex (CX) and its associated lateral accessory lobes were remarkably large with respect to the remaining central brain. As the latter neuropils are involved in processing skylight compass cues in locusts and monarch butterflies, it is tempting to speculate that they have a comparable role in the Bogong moth brain. On the other hand, the underdeveloped OLs might suggest that visual information does not play an equally important role compared to diurnal migrants. The large CX of the Bogong moth combined with its small OLs could imply that other modalities are represented in the CX and used as basis for migratory behavior, or that a large proportion of the OL is devoted to processing skylight compass cues at the expense of other visual information. Comparison to the closely related, but non-migratory A. segetum will help to identify truly unique features of the Bogong moth brain that correlate with its ability to perform nocturnal migrations. Finally, by describing the general layout of the Bogong moth brain, we provide the basis for electrophysiological experiments, opening the way for unraveling the neural basis of nocturnal migrations. Keywords: central complex, nocturnal vision, Migration, Lepidoptera, Comparative Neuroanatomy Conference: International Conference on Invertebrate Vision, Fjälkinge, Sweden, 1 Aug - 8 Aug, 2013. Presentation Type: Poster presentation preferred Topic: Navigation and orientation Citation: Heinze S and Warrant E (2019). The visual system in the brain of the Bogong moth - A neural substrate for visually guided nocturnal migrations?. Front. Physiol. Conference Abstract: International Conference on Invertebrate Vision. doi: 10.3389/conf.fphys.2013.25.00065 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 26 Feb 2013; Published Online: 09 Dec 2019. * Correspondence: Dr. Stanley Heinze, Lund University, Department of Biology, Lund, 22362, Sweden, stanley.heinze@biol.lu.se Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Stanley Heinze Eric Warrant Google Stanley Heinze Eric Warrant Google Scholar Stanley Heinze Eric Warrant PubMed Stanley Heinze Eric Warrant Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.