2011 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Neuroethological study of polarization vision in Papilio butterflies
| Project/Area Number |
21770078
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Field |
Animal physiology/Animal behavior
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| Research Institution | The Graduate University for Advanced Studies |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2009 – 2011
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| Keywords | 神経行動 |
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| Research Abstract |
I observed abilities of polarization vision and brightness vision in foraging Japanese yellow swallowtail butterflies by behavioral experiments. I revealed following three features. 1) Butterfly could discriminate relative intensity of visual stimuli and see so-called brightness contrast. 2) Vertical polarization was detected brighter than horizontal polarization for butterflies. Polarization discrimination was effected by intensity of background. 3) Intensity contrast between a target and a background is crucial cue for landing. As I predicted which set of receptors could explain my behavioral data, four different class of receptor could contribute not only color vision but also polarization and brightness vision in butterflies.
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