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Assays to Detect UV-reflecting Structures and Determine their Importance in Mate Preference using the Sailfin Molly Poecilia latipinna
Published on: September 14, 2016
Measurement system for marine animal reflectance functions
Justin M Haag1, Jules S Jaffe, Alison M Sweeney
1Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0238, USA. jmhaag@ucsd.edu
Optics Express
|March 14, 2013
Summary
Marine animals like squid and fish use skin photonic structures for camouflage. Researchers measured light scattering patterns, revealing similar optical strategies for open-ocean hiding.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Biophysics
- Optical engineering
Background:
- Pelagic fishes and squids possess specialized skin photonic structures for camouflage in oceanic light environments.
- Understanding the optical principles of these structures is crucial for comprehending their function in predator avoidance and prey concealment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the optical properties of skin structures in marine animals.
- To investigate the principles behind light manipulation for camouflage in the open ocean.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel optical scatterometer to measure the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF).
- Acquisition of reflectance data from the squid Pterygioteuthis microlampas and the fish Sternoptyx sp.
Main Results:
- The study revealed significant similarities in the light scattering patterns of the examined squid and fish species.
- Despite apparent morphological differences, their optical strategies for camouflage in open water appear convergent.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that distinct marine organisms have evolved similar biophotonic solutions for effective crypsis in pelagic environments.
- This research highlights the power of natural selection in optimizing optical properties for survival in complex light fields.
