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THE PARALLEL VISUAL WORLD OF AN INSECT. Gregor Belušič, Peter Stušek. University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology. OWL FLY – INTERESTING ANIMAL FROM. THE ASPEST OF VISION. bipartite eye. ABSORBTION CHARACTERISTICS OF RHODOPSIN AND METARHODOPSIN. triggering of
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THE PARALLEL VISUAL WORLD OF AN INSECT Gregor Belušič, Peter Stušek • University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology
OWL FLY – INTERESTING ANIMAL FROM THE ASPEST OF VISION bipartite eye
ABSORBTION CHARACTERISTICS OF RHODOPSIN AND METARHODOPSIN triggering of signalling cascade exclusive sensitivity in UV
Wsr-1 300 200 100 0 15h 9h 12h 6h 18h SKY RADIANCE VARIABILITY radiance from clouds
DIFFERENCE IN CONTRASTS UV VIS
STEEP RESPONSE FUCTION OF UV RECEPTOR receptor response narrow dinamic range light intensity
VISUAL PIGMENT CYCLE (rhodopsin) (active rhodopsin) activation of signalling cascade (protein) high affinity low affinity Inactivation of metarhodopsin accomplished by arrestin (arr)
356 nm (30 % R) 471 nm (100 % R) PDA dark POST DEPOLARISING AFTERPOTENTIAL, PDA
CONCLUSIONS • The bipartite eye of owl-fly (Ascalaphus macaronius) is developed for • catching the preys against the sky. 2. In order to accomplish this job the visual cells are exclusive sensitive to UV light to lover the ambiguous background of the sky and to enhance the visual contrast. • The visual cells operate at high light level therefore they pushed to the • “edge” of sufficient arrestin content which is elevated. • Using UV light by just a part of the eye ot the whole eye is probbably the • general strategy for the animals (dragon flies, drones, may flies...) whose • life depends on cathing the preys or mates against the sky .
ABSORBTION CHARACTERISTICS OF RHODOPSIN AND METARHODOPSIN triggers the signalling cascade
PHOTOS OF THE SKY UV visible
BIPARTITE EYE OF ASCALAPHUS visual unite ommatidium ommatidium
PDA 10 mV 380 nm 100 ms