Pattern- and contrast-dependent visual response in the box jellyfish Tripedalia cystophora
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Pattern- and contrast-dependent visual response in the box jellyfish Tripedalia cystophora. / Garm, Anders; Hedal, Ida; Islin, Majken; Gurska, Daniela.
In: Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol. 216, No. 24, 01.12.2013, p. 4520-4529.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Pattern- and contrast-dependent visual response in the box jellyfish Tripedalia cystophora
AU - Garm, Anders
AU - Hedal, Ida
AU - Islin, Majken
AU - Gurska, Daniela
PY - 2013/12/1
Y1 - 2013/12/1
N2 - Cubomedusae possess a total of 24 eyes, some of which are structurally similar to vertebrate eyes. Accordingly, the medusae also display a range of light-guided behaviours including obstacle avoidance, diurnal activity patterns and navigation. Navigation is supported by spatial resolution and image formation in the so-called upper lens eye. Further, there are indications that obstacle avoidance requires image information from the lower lens eye. Here we use a behavioural assay to examine the obstacle avoidance behaviour of the Caribbean cubomedusa Tripedalia cystophora and test whether it requires spatial resolution. The possible influence of the contrast and orientation of the obstacles is also examined. We show that the medusae can only perform the behaviour when spatial information is present, and fail to avoid a uniformly dark wall, directly proving the use of spatial vision. We also show that the medusae respond stronger to high contrast lines than to low contrast lines in a graded fashion, and propose that the medusae use contrast as a semi-reliable measure of distance to the obstacle.
AB - Cubomedusae possess a total of 24 eyes, some of which are structurally similar to vertebrate eyes. Accordingly, the medusae also display a range of light-guided behaviours including obstacle avoidance, diurnal activity patterns and navigation. Navigation is supported by spatial resolution and image formation in the so-called upper lens eye. Further, there are indications that obstacle avoidance requires image information from the lower lens eye. Here we use a behavioural assay to examine the obstacle avoidance behaviour of the Caribbean cubomedusa Tripedalia cystophora and test whether it requires spatial resolution. The possible influence of the contrast and orientation of the obstacles is also examined. We show that the medusae can only perform the behaviour when spatial information is present, and fail to avoid a uniformly dark wall, directly proving the use of spatial vision. We also show that the medusae respond stronger to high contrast lines than to low contrast lines in a graded fashion, and propose that the medusae use contrast as a semi-reliable measure of distance to the obstacle.
KW - cubomedusae
KW - vision
KW - eyes
KW - behaviour
KW - spatial resolution
U2 - 10.1242/jeb.091934
DO - 10.1242/jeb.091934
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 24031055
VL - 216
SP - 4520
EP - 4529
JO - Journal of Experimental Biology
JF - Journal of Experimental Biology
SN - 0022-0949
IS - 24
ER -
ID: 119408246