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Metamorfosis visual adaptativa en un cangrejo de respiradero hidrotermal de aguas profundas
Robert N Jinks1, Tara L Markley, Elizabeth E Taylor
1Department of Biology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17604-3003, USA. rjinks@fandm.edu
Nature
|November 8, 2002
Resumen
Las larvas de cangrejo ventral planctónico (Bythograea thermydron) tienen ojos para la visión de formación de imágenes. A medida que maduran, sus ojos se adaptan a una mayor sensibilidad y detectan longitudes de onda más largas, lo que ayuda a establecerse en los respiraderos hidrotermales de aguas profundas.
Área de la Ciencia:
- Biología Marina Biología Marina.
- Ecología de las profundidades marinas.
- Biología Sensorial Biología Sensorial
Sus antecedentes:
- Las fuentes hidrotermales albergan ecosistemas únicos con fauna endémica.
- Las etapas larvales de la fauna de ventilación, como el cangrejo de ventilación Bythograea thermydron, se dispersan ampliamente.
- El papel de la visión en la historia de la vida de la fauna de los respiraderos sigue siendo en gran parte inexplorado.
Objetivo del estudio:
- Para investigar el papel del sistema visual en la historia de la vida del cangrejo de ventilación Bythograea thermydron.
- Comprender cómo se adapta la visión durante las etapas larval y postlarval de los cangrejos de ventilación.
- Para determinar la sensibilidad espectral de los pigmentos visuales en diferentes etapas de la vida.
Principales métodos:
- Análisis comparativo de la morfología y la óptica del ojo a través de las etapas larval, postlarval y adulta.
- Análisis espectrofotométrico de pigmentos visuales para determinar la absorbancia espectral.
- Observación de los comportamientos de dispersión y asentamiento de las larvas.
Principales resultados:
- Las larvas de Zoea poseen ojos compuestos formadores de imágenes sensibles a la luz azul.
- La metamorfosis conduce a la pérdida de la óptica de formación de imágenes y al desarrollo de ojos de retina desnuda de alta sensibilidad.
- La absorbancia espectral cambia de azul a longitudes de onda más largas, adaptándose al entorno de ventilación.
Conclusiones:
- La visión del cangrejo respiratorio sufre una metamorfosis significativa, intercambiando imágenes por sensibilidad.
- Esta adaptación visual ayuda a la navegación y al asentamiento en fuentes hidrotermales de aguas profundas.
- La visión puede complementar otros sentidos para la orientación y el asentamiento en los sitios de ventilación.
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