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Visual Adaptations of Ontogenetically Migrating Deep-Sea Crustaceans

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Date Issued:
2007
Summary:
Species that are ontogenetic migrators have early life stages (juveniles) that live shallower in the water column than the adults and therefore experience a brighter environment than the adults. This work provides evidence that juveniles and adults of the ontogenetically migrating crustacean species Gnathophausia ingens, Oplophorus gracilirostris, and Systellaspis debilis have evolved visual adaptations to their respective environments. The juveniles use apposition optics that provide greater resolution, whereas the adults use superposition optics that maximize sensitivity. These animals also have regional specializations to aid in viewing a light field that is brighter above than below, such as accessory screening pigments located dorsally and superposition type optics ventrally. The non-ontogenetic migrators Notostomus elegans and Notostomus gibbosus possess superposition optics as both juveniles and adults, implying that the changes seen in ontogenetic migrators are indeed visual adaptations.
Title: Visual Adaptations of Ontogenetically Migrating Deep-Sea Crustaceans.
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Name(s): Whitehill, Elizabeth A. G., author
Frank, Tamara M., Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2007
Date Issued: 2007
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 63 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Species that are ontogenetic migrators have early life stages (juveniles) that live shallower in the water column than the adults and therefore experience a brighter environment than the adults. This work provides evidence that juveniles and adults of the ontogenetically migrating crustacean species Gnathophausia ingens, Oplophorus gracilirostris, and Systellaspis debilis have evolved visual adaptations to their respective environments. The juveniles use apposition optics that provide greater resolution, whereas the adults use superposition optics that maximize sensitivity. These animals also have regional specializations to aid in viewing a light field that is brighter above than below, such as accessory screening pigments located dorsally and superposition type optics ventrally. The non-ontogenetic migrators Notostomus elegans and Notostomus gibbosus possess superposition optics as both juveniles and adults, implying that the changes seen in ontogenetic migrators are indeed visual adaptations.
Identifier: FA00000854 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2007.
Subject(s): Animal navigation
Deep-sea biology
Shellfish fisheries
Spectral sensitivity
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000854
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.