Abstract
Sexual communication between male and female fireflies involves the visual detection of species-specific bioluminescent signals. Firefly species vary spectrally in both their emitted light and in the sensitivity of the eye, depending on the time when each is active. Tuning of spectral sensitivity in three firefly species that occupy different photic niches was investigated using light and electron microscopy, microspectrophotometry, and intracellular recording to characterize the location and spectral absorption of the screening pigments that filter incoming light, the visual pigments that receive this filtered light, and the visual spectral sensitivity. Twilight-active species had similar pink screening pigments, but the visual pigment of Photinus pyralis peaked near 545 nm, while that of P. scintillans had a lambdamax near 557 nm. The night-active Photuris versicolo, had a yellow screening pigment that was uniquely localized, while its visual pigment was similar to that of P. pyralis. These results show that both screening and visual pigments vary among species. Modeling of spectral tuning indicates that the combination of screening and visual pigments found in the retina of each species provides the best possible match of sensitivity to bioluminescent emission. This combination also produced model sensitivity spectra that closely resemble sensitivities measured either with electroretinographic or intracellular techniques. Vision in both species of Photinus appears to be evolutionarily tuned for maximum discrimination of conspecific signals from spectrally broader backgrounds. Ph. versicolor, on the other hand, appears to have a visual system that offers a compromise between maximum sensitivity to, and maximum discrimination of, their signals.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.