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The ontogenic development of refracting superposition eyes in crustaceans: transformation of optical design

Nilsson, Dan-E LU ; Hallberg, Eric LU and Elofsson, Rolf LU (1986) In Cell and Tissue Research 18. p.509-519
Abstract
We have investigated, comparatively, the ontogenetic development of the compound eye in larvae of a mysid (Neomysis) and a euphausiid (Thysanoessa) species and found it to be close to identical in the two species. The larval eye is of apposition type with special adaptations for planktonic life. The elongated dioptric apparatus is devoid of screening pigment and instead has a proximal lens optically isolating the ommatidium. The pigmented retina is extremely compressed making the eye largely transparent and presumably suitable for a planktonic life. The presence of this specialized type of eye in the planktonic larvae of euphausiids was known before but it is intriguing to find exactly the same type in mysids, spending their entire larval... (More)
We have investigated, comparatively, the ontogenetic development of the compound eye in larvae of a mysid (Neomysis) and a euphausiid (Thysanoessa) species and found it to be close to identical in the two species. The larval eye is of apposition type with special adaptations for planktonic life. The elongated dioptric apparatus is devoid of screening pigment and instead has a proximal lens optically isolating the ommatidium. The pigmented retina is extremely compressed making the eye largely transparent and presumably suitable for a planktonic life. The presence of this specialized type of eye in the planktonic larvae of euphausiids was known before but it is intriguing to find exactly the same type in mysids, spending their entire larval life as embryos in the female marsupium. A possible explanation is offered if mysids earlier in evolution had planktonic larvae. Upon reduction of free-living larvae, the transparent type of eye may have been preserved because there is no selection pressure on the larva to change it. In late larval life, both species transform their eyes to a refracting superposition type typical for adult mysids and euphausiids. The process of transformation and the functional connection between transparent apposition and superposition is described. (Less)
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organization
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Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Ontogeny, compound eye, Crustacea, plankton, ommatidium
in
Cell and Tissue Research
volume
18
pages
509 - 519
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:38249042847
ISSN
1432-0878
DOI
10.1016/0040-8166(86)90017-0
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5635a72b-20ae-40d3-8bd2-21648646cb87
date added to LUP
2016-11-09 16:20:41
date last changed
2021-08-15 04:20:55
@article{5635a72b-20ae-40d3-8bd2-21648646cb87,
  abstract     = {{We have investigated, comparatively, the ontogenetic development of the compound eye in larvae of a mysid (Neomysis) and a euphausiid (Thysanoessa) species and found it to be close to identical in the two species. The larval eye is of apposition type with special adaptations for planktonic life. The elongated dioptric apparatus is devoid of screening pigment and instead has a proximal lens optically isolating the ommatidium. The pigmented retina is extremely compressed making the eye largely transparent and presumably suitable for a planktonic life. The presence of this specialized type of eye in the planktonic larvae of euphausiids was known before but it is intriguing to find exactly the same type in mysids, spending their entire larval life as embryos in the female marsupium. A possible explanation is offered if mysids earlier in evolution had planktonic larvae. Upon reduction of free-living larvae, the transparent type of eye may have been preserved because there is no selection pressure on the larva to change it. In late larval life, both species transform their eyes to a refracting superposition type typical for adult mysids and euphausiids. The process of transformation and the functional connection between transparent apposition and superposition is described.}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Dan-E and Hallberg, Eric and Elofsson, Rolf}},
  issn         = {{1432-0878}},
  keywords     = {{Ontogeny; compound eye; Crustacea; plankton; ommatidium}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{509--519}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Cell and Tissue Research}},
  title        = {{The ontogenic development of refracting superposition eyes in crustaceans: transformation of optical design}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0040-8166(86)90017-0}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/0040-8166(86)90017-0}},
  volume       = {{18}},
  year         = {{1986}},
}