The ontogenic development of refracting superposition eyes in crustaceans: transformation of optical design

Nilsson, Dan-ELund University,Lunds universitet,Funktionell zoologi,Biologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Syngruppen,Forskargrupper vid Lunds universitet,Functional zoology,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science,Lund Vision Group,Lund University Research Groups (författare)

We have investigated, comparatively, the ontogenetic development of the compound eye in larvae of a mysid (Neomysis) and a euphausiid (Thysanoessa) species and found it to be close to identical in the two species. The larval eye is of apposition type with special adaptations for planktonic life. The elongated dioptric apparatus is devoid of screening pigment and instead has a proximal lens optically isolating the ommatidium. The pigmented retina is extremely compressed making the eye largely transparent and presumably suitable for a planktonic life. The presence of this specialized type of eye in the planktonic larvae of euphausiids was known before but it is intriguing to find exactly the same type in mysids, spending their entire larval life as embryos in the female marsupium. A possible explanation is offered if mysids earlier in evolution had planktonic larvae. Upon reduction of free-living larvae, the transparent type of eye may have been preserved because there is no selection pressure on the larva to change it. In late larval life, both species transform their eyes to a refracting superposition type typical for adult mysids and euphausiids. The process of transformation and the functional connection between transparent apposition and superposition is described.

Hallberg, EricLund University,Lunds universitet,Funktionell zoologi,Biologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Functional zoology,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science(Swepub:lu)zool-eha (författare)
Elofsson, RolfLund University,Lunds universitet,Funktionell zoologi,Biologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Functional zoology,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science(Swepub:lu)zool-rel (författare)
Funktionell zoologiBiologiska institutionen (creator_code:org_t)

Om ämnet

Kungliga biblioteket hanterar dina personuppgifter i enlighet med EU:s dataskyddsförordning (2018), GDPR. Läs mer om hur det funkar här.
Så här hanterar KB dina uppgifter vid användning av denna tjänst.