| Animals often
use signals to assess organismal conditions such as reproductive
status or dominance. For species occurring in heterogeneous
light habitats, communication via color signaling can
be problematic. Benthic marine organisms receive light
that is filtered by the overlying water and its constituents
so that light at depth is less intense and spectrally
narrow. |
| |
| Mantis shrimp
(or stomatopods) are colorful and fairly belligerent marine
crustacea that display conspicuous colored spots during
intra- and interspecific interactions. Coupled with a
complex color vision system almost without rival, color
signaling may have many functional roles in mantis shrimp
behavior. This signaling system may also be adaptable
in both signal receiving (retina) and producing (body
spots) structures in response to different light conditions.
Recently, research has shown that some species with wide
depth ranges (intertidal to >25 meters) in the superfamily
Gonodactyloidea can modify parts of individual
color receptors (intrarhabdomal filters) in response to
varying light stimuli. Mantis shrimp also can vary body
coloration through successive molts. In concert, retinal
and body color changes may serve to preserve color signal
function in variable environments. |
| |
 |
|
| |
Figure
2:
Haptosquilla trispinosa from shallow (less
than 1 meter) and deep (20 meters) habitats near
Lizard
Island, Australia. |
|
|
| In my research,
I will measure body coloration and retinal structure in
stomatopods from a variety of sites and depths to establish
natural patterns in the "matching" of signal
perception and signal generation in the field. Results
from animal measurements will be combined with relevant
ambient light measurements and retinal structure in a
model to estimate how well potential signaling body parts
would be perceived in different habitats. In the laboratory,
I will manipulate the photic environment of resident animals
to resemble shallow and deep water habitats to induce
changes in body coloration and retinal structure. Behavioral
experiments with light-treated animals will be conducted
with animals from the same or different light environments
to show true signal function and efficiency. This research
ties small-scale physiological mechanisms to large-scale
processes and interactions and provides a more comprehensive
assessment of the function of the amazing stomatopod color
vision system. |
| |
 |
|
| |
Figure
3:
The scuba diver's typical view of a mantis shrimp
(Haptosquilla trispinosa) in its home on
the coral reef. |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Cronin
TW, Shashar N, Caldwell RL, Marshall N, Cheroske
AG, Chiou TH |
| |
Polarization
signals in the marine environment. 2004 Proc of
SPIE. 5158:85-92. [Abstract][PDF] |
| Cronin
TW, Shashar N, Caldwell RL, Marshall N, Cheroske
AG, Chiou TH |
| |
Polarization
vision and its role in biological signaling. Integr.
Comp. Biol. 2004 43:549-558 [Abstract][PDF] |
| Cheroske
AG, Cronin TW,
Caldwell RL. |
| |
Adaptive
color vision in Pullosquilla litoralis
(Stomatopoda, Lysiosquilloidea) associated with
spectral and intensity changes in light environment.
J Exp Biol. 2003 206:373-379. [PubMed
listing] |
| Cheroske
AG, Williams SL, Carpenter RC |
| |
Effects
of physical and biological disturbances on algal
turfs in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
J. exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 2000 248:1-34
|
|
|
|
