Behavioural evidence for polychromatic ultraviolet sensitivity in mantis shrimp

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Animal Behavior
• Sensory Ecology

Background:

• Stomatopod crustaceans possess complex visual systems with numerous photoreceptors for color and polarization detection.
• Previous studies suggested ultraviolet (UV) light's role in stomatopod communication, but only tested the entire UV spectrum.
• The specific roles of different UV wavelengths in stomatopod vision remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the UV vision capabilities of the stomatopod Haptosquilla trispinosa.
• To determine if H. trispinosa can discriminate between different narrow-band UV wavelengths.
• To assess behavioral responses to specific UV light stimuli, particularly UVB and UVA.

Main Methods:

• Utilized binary trained choice assays to test stimulus discrimination.
• Employed innate burrow-choice experiments to observe naturalistic responses.
• Presented narrow-band LED stimuli peaking at 314 nm (UVB), 379 nm (UVA), and 351 nm.

Main Results:

• H. trispinosa successfully discriminated between UVB (314 nm) and UVA (379 nm) stimuli.
• The stomatopods exhibited an aversive reaction to UVB light, suggesting segregated behavioral responses.
• Discrimination between 379 nm (UVA) and 351 nm stimuli was also successful, indicating fine-tuned UV wavelength discrimination.

Conclusions:

• H. trispinosa demonstrates the ability to differentiate between distinct UV light wavelengths.
• UVB light elicits a specific aversive behavior in H. trispinosa.
• The stomatopod's UV wavelength discrimination capabilities are comparable to those observed in the human-visible spectrum.