Event Abstract Back to Event Vision in Drosophila larvae Simon G. Sprecher1* 1 University of Fribourg, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Switzerland The compound eyes of adult holometabolous insects are composed of a complex array of photoreceptor neurons (PRs) organized in ommatidia. However the eyes employed during larval stages are often much simpler. The eye of the Drosophila larvae is composed of 12 photoreceptors, which are further subdivided according to rhodopsin expression. Four PRs express the blue sensitive Rhodopsin5 (Rh5), while the remaining eight PRs express the green-sensitive Rhodopsin6 (Rh6). In turn larval PRs project to a small neuropil compartment (larval optic neuropil, LON), where second order neurons receive visual input. The simplicity of the visual system raises the question what can larvae actually “see”? We probe the functionality of larval PRs and higher order neurons by assessing their function in simple and complex behavioral tasks. We first show that larvae are using visual information perceived by the eye for simple navigational decision-making but also for the entrainment of the circadian clock. Beside simple navigational tasks larvae are also able to use visual stimuli to form associative memories between light and other sensory modalities including olfactory and gustatory cues. Surprisingly we found that the two PR-subtypes contribute to very distinct behavioral functions supporting that a diversification occurs as early as the sensory receptor neurons. Navigation uniquely depends on the blue-sensitive Rh5-PRs, while circadian clock entrainment both PRs are essential. We further identify and characterize second order neurons of the larval visual circuit and by using 3D serial electron microscopy reconstruction we decipher the synaptic connectivity between PRs and their target neurons. Genetic manipulations further unveil a functional diversification of visual second order neurons, providing specific functions for larval navigation. Thus even though the visual system of the Drosophila larvae consists of a small set of neurons it controls a wide range of physiologically relevant behavioral functions. Figure 1 Keywords: navigation behavior, learning and memory, Circadian Rhythm, Drosophila melanogaster, Neuroanatomy Conference: International Conference on Invertebrate Vision, Fjälkinge, Sweden, 1 Aug - 8 Aug, 2013. Presentation Type: Poster presentation preferred Topic: Development and evolution Citation: Sprecher SG (2019). Vision in Drosophila larvae. Front. Physiol. Conference Abstract: International Conference on Invertebrate Vision. doi: 10.3389/conf.fphys.2013.25.00101 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: 23 Apr 2013; Published Online: 09 Dec 2019. * Correspondence: Prof. Simon G Sprecher, University of Fribourg, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Fribourg, FR, 1700, Switzerland, simon.sprecher@unifr.ch 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 Simon G Sprecher Google Simon G Sprecher Google Scholar Simon G Sprecher PubMed Simon G Sprecher 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.