Varying degrees of polarization vision in octopus: interaction between degree and angle of polarization in contrast detection tasks

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Varying degrees of polarization vision in octopus: interaction between degree and angle of polarization in contrast detection tasks Shelby E. Temple1, 2*, Julian Partridge1, Justin Marshall3 and Nicholas W. Roberts1 1 The University of Bristol, School of Biological Sciences, United Kingdom 2 The University of Queensland, School of Biomedical Sciences, Australia 3 The University of Queensland, Queensland Brain Institute, Australia Sensitivity to the polarization of light is common among invertebrates, and cephalopods are no exception. Previous behavioural and electrophysiological evidence suggests that cuttlefish, octopus and squid have acute discrimination of electric field vector (e-vector) angular contrast (as low as one degree). However, like many studies of polarization vision, cephalopods have only been tested under strongly polarized light conditions i.e. where the degree of polarization was close to 100 per cent. Because multiple scattering events reduce the degree of polarization of the underwater light field, we were curious to know how lower degrees of polarization affect polarization vision in cephalopods. Using a modified liquid crystal display monitor, which presents images in polarization rather than luminosity, we measured a threshold curve of the minimum angular difference between e-vectors that was just detectable over a range of degrees of polarization for two octopus species. We used the sudden change in body colouration in response to a looming stimulus presented onscreen as an indication of detection. Both species (Octopus cyanea and Adopus aculeatus) were able to discriminate a stimulus from the background when the difference in e-vector angle was less than 5 degrees, and they could continue to do so when the degree of polarization decreased to as low as 30 per cent. Below this level the minimum angular contrast that they could distinguish rapidly increased, until, at a degree of polarization of less than 5 per cent an angular contrast of over 50 degrees was required to elicit a behavioural response. We conclude that octopuses are able to continue to use their polarization sensitivity even when the degree of polarization in the visual information is low. However, there is a trade off against the minimum angular difference between e-vectors they can detect. This is perhaps to be expected given that our measurements of the polarization signals in the aquatic world are showing that the degree of polarization is typically below 40 per cent. The remarkable abilities of these polarization specialists is driving the development of ever more sensitive and accurate polarization imaging techniques as we endeavor to understand the visual ecology of these fascinating animals. Acknowledgements Yulgilbar Foundation Fellowship to Lizard Island Research Station Air Force Office of Scientific Research, U.S.A. Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, U.K. Thanks to the staff at the Lizard Island Research Station, Roy Caldwell, and Megan Porter Keywords: Opsin, Polarisation, Visual Neuroscience, Visual ecology, bio-inspired nanotechnology, Behavioural Ecology, Neuroethology Conference: International Conference on Invertebrate Vision, Fjälkinge, Sweden, 1 Aug - 8 Aug, 2013. Presentation Type: Oral presentation preferred Topic: Colour and polarisation vision Citation: Temple SE, Partridge J, Marshall J and Roberts NW (2019). Varying degrees of polarization vision in octopus: interaction between degree and angle of polarization in contrast detection tasks. Front. Physiol. Conference Abstract: International Conference on Invertebrate Vision. doi: 10.3389/conf.fphys.2013.25.00072 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: 28 Feb 2013; Published Online: 09 Dec 2019. * Correspondence: Dr. Shelby E Temple, The University of Bristol, School of Biological Sciences, Bristol, United Kingdom, shelby.temple@bristol.ac.uk 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 Shelby E Temple Julian Partridge Justin Marshall Nicholas W Roberts Google Shelby E Temple Julian Partridge Justin Marshall Nicholas W Roberts Google Scholar Shelby E Temple Julian Partridge Justin Marshall Nicholas W Roberts PubMed Shelby E Temple Julian Partridge Justin Marshall Nicholas W Roberts 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.