Eye Size, Fovea, and Foraging Ecology in Accipitriform Raptors

Potier, SimonLund University,Lunds universitet,Syngruppen,Forskargrupper vid Lunds universitet,Lund Vision Group,Lund University Research Groups,Paul Valéry University of Montpellier,University of Montpellier (författare)

Birds with larger eyes are predicted to have higher spatial resolution because of their larger retinal image. Raptors are well known for their acute vision, mediated by their deep central fovea. Because foraging strategies may demand specific visual adaptations, eye size and fovea may differ between species with different foraging ecology. We tested whether predators (actively hunting mobile prey) and carrion eaters (eating dead prey) from the order Accipitriformes differ in eye size, foveal depth, and retinal thickness using spectral domain optical coherence tomography and comparative phylogenetic methods. We found that (1) all studied predators (except one) had a central and a temporal fovea, but all carrion eaters had only the central fovea; (2) eye size scaled with body mass both in predators and carrion eaters; (3) predators had larger eyes relative to body mass and a thicker retina at the edge of the fovea than carrion eaters, but there was no difference in the depth of the central fovea between the groups. Finally, we found that (4) larger eyes generally had a deeper central fovea. These results suggest that the visual system of raptors within the order Accipitriformes may be highly adapted to the foraging strategy, except for the foveal depth, which seems mostly dependent upon the eye size.

Mitkus, MindaugasLund University,Lunds universitet,Syngruppen,Forskargrupper vid Lunds universitet,Lund Vision Group,Lund University Research Groups(Swepub:lu)cob-msm (författare)
Bonadonna, FrancescoPaul Valéry University of Montpellier,University of Montpellier (författare)
Duriez, OlivierPaul Valéry University of Montpellier,University of Montpellier (författare)
Isard, Pierre FrançoisCentre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Saint-Martin (författare)
Dulaurent, ThomasCentre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Saint-Martin (författare)
Mentek, MarielleCentre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Saint-Martin (författare)
Kelber, AlmutLund University,Lunds universitet,Syngruppen,Forskargrupper vid Lunds universitet,Lund Vision Group,Lund University Research Groups(Swepub:lu)zool-ake (författare)
SyngruppenForskargrupper vid Lunds universitet (creator_code:org_t)

Ingår i:Brain, Behavior and Evolution: S. Karger AG90:3, s. 232-2420006-89771421-9743

Av författaren/redakt...: Potier, Simon; Mitkus, Mindauga ...; Bonadonna, Franc ...; Duriez, Olivier; Isard, Pierre Fr ...; Dulaurent, Thoma ...; visa fler...; Mentek, Marielle; Kelber, Almut; visa färre...

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