Bumblebee visual allometry results in locally improved resolution and globally improved sensitivity

Taylor, Gavin J. (author): Lund University,Lunds universitet,Syngruppen,Forskargrupper vid Lunds universitet,Lund Vision Group,Lund University Research Groups

Tichit, Pierre (author): Lund University,Lunds universitet,Syngruppen,Forskargrupper vid Lunds universitet,Lund Vision Group,Lund University Research Groups

Schmidt, Marie D. (author): Lund University,Lunds universitet,Funktionell zoologi,Biologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Functional zoology,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science,Westphalian University of Applied Sciences

Baird, Emily (author): Stockholms universitet,Stockholm University,Lund University,Lunds universitet,Syngruppen,Forskargrupper vid Lunds universitet,Lund Vision Group,Lund University Research Groups,Zoologiska institutionen,Lund University, Sweden

(creator_code:org_t)

Related links:: http://dx.doi.org/10... (free); show more...; https://doi.org/10.7...; https://lup.lub.lu.s...; https://doi.org/10.7...; https://urn.kb.se/re...; show less...

Abstract Subject headings

The quality of visual information that is available to an animal is limited by the size of its eyes. Differences in eye size can be observed even between closely related individuals, yet we understand little about how this affects vision. Insects are good models for exploring the effects of size on visual systems because many insect species exhibit size polymorphism. Previous work has been limited by difficulties in determining the 3D structure of eyes. We have developed a novel method based on x-ray microtomography to measure the 3D structure of insect eyes and to calculate predictions of their visual capabilities. We used our method to investigate visual allometry in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris and found that size affects specific aspects of vision, including binocular overlap, optical sensitivity, and dorsofrontal visual resolution. This reveals that differential scaling between eye areas provides flexibility that improves the visual capabilities of larger bumblebees.

By the author/editor: Taylor, Gavin J.; Tichit, Pierre; Schmidt, Marie D ...; Bodey, Andrew J.; Rau, Christoph; Baird, Emily

About the subject

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.