Summary
Spatial orientation corresponding to the bearing of thee-vector of linearly polarized light can be demonstrated in sighted and eyeless salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) trained under linearly polarized light. However, if opaque polyethylene plastic is inserted over the skull of these animals, whether they are sighted or eyeless, orientation is uniform within the test arena. Bidirectional oriented movement is restored in both groups, however, when transparent plastic is substituted in the same animals. A discussion of the possible mechanism for perception of polarized light by extraocular photoreceptors (EOPs) is given.
Zusammenfassung
Durch Dressur unter linear polarisiertem Licht wird beiAmbystoma tigrinum sowohl mit als auch ohne Augen eine Orientierung nach deme-Vektor linear polarisierten Lichtes nachgewiesen. Wird jedoch über dem Schädel (unter der Haut) eine opake Polyäthylen-Scheibe eingeschoben, so findet sich weder bei geblendeten noch bei Tieren mit Augen eine Orientierung nach deme-Vektor. Wird die opake Plastikscheibe durch eine transparente ersetzt, so tritt in jedem Fall die Orientierung (± 180 °) wieder auf. Die möglichen Mechanismen der Wahrnehmung polarisierten Lichtes durch extraokulare Rezeptoren werden diskutiert.
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We dedicate this paper to the memory of our colleague and friend Hobart F. Landreth, a pioneer in the study of amphibian orientation, who lost his life in a canoeing accident on 4 March 1973.
We thank T. H. Waterman, R. Jander, R. B. Forward, Jr., and K. von Frisch for comments on an early draft of the manuscript. Michael Brines kindly allowed us to mention his studies on passage of polarized light through salamander skulls. We thank Bruce Bailey for helping to conduct tests.
Financial support was provided by a Biomedical Science Support Grant (NIH FR 07033-05) and NSF grants GB-30647 and GB-35966 to K. Adler; an Indiana Academy of Science research grant and a post-doctoral fellowship (NSF GU-2058) to D. H. Taylor.
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Adler, K., Taylor, D.H. Extraocular perception of polarized light by orienting salamanders. J. Comp. Physiol. 87, 203–212 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696042
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696042