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Retinal and optical adaptations for nocturnal vision in the halictid bee Megalopta genalis

Greiner, Birgit LU ; Ribi, WA and Warrant, Eric LU orcid (2004) In Cell and Tissue Research 316(3). p.377-390
Abstract
The apposition compound eye of a nocturnal bee, the halictid Megalopta genalis, is described for the first time. Compared to the compound eye of the worker honeybee Apis mellifera and the diurnal halictid bee Lasioglossum leucozonium, the eye of M. genalis shows specific retinal and optical adaptations for vision in dim light. The major anatomical adaptations within the eye of the nocturnal bee are (1) nearly twofold larger ommatidial facets and (2) a 4-5 times wider rhabdom diameter than found in the diurnal bees studied. Optically, the apposition eye of M. genalis is 27 times more sensitive to light than the eyes of the diurnal bees. This increased optical sensitivity represents a clear optical adaptation to low light intensities.... (More)
The apposition compound eye of a nocturnal bee, the halictid Megalopta genalis, is described for the first time. Compared to the compound eye of the worker honeybee Apis mellifera and the diurnal halictid bee Lasioglossum leucozonium, the eye of M. genalis shows specific retinal and optical adaptations for vision in dim light. The major anatomical adaptations within the eye of the nocturnal bee are (1) nearly twofold larger ommatidial facets and (2) a 4-5 times wider rhabdom diameter than found in the diurnal bees studied. Optically, the apposition eye of M. genalis is 27 times more sensitive to light than the eyes of the diurnal bees. This increased optical sensitivity represents a clear optical adaptation to low light intensities. Although this unique nocturnal apposition eye has a greatly improved ability to catch light, a 27-fold increase in sensitivity alone cannot account for nocturnal vision at light intensities that are 8 log units dimmer than during daytime. New evidence suggests that additional neuronal spatial summation within the first optic ganglion, the lamina, is involved. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
visual system, apposition compound eye, retina, Megalopta genalis (Insecta), structure, nocturnal vision, dim light
in
Cell and Tissue Research
volume
316
issue
3
pages
377 - 390
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:15064946
  • wos:000221732500009
  • scopus:3042683333
  • pmid:15064946
ISSN
1432-0878
DOI
10.1007/s00441-004-0883-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b539a474-bc41-4491-89bd-6a02c341f042 (old id 276722)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:33:45
date last changed
2022-04-06 00:00:08
@article{b539a474-bc41-4491-89bd-6a02c341f042,
  abstract     = {{The apposition compound eye of a nocturnal bee, the halictid Megalopta genalis, is described for the first time. Compared to the compound eye of the worker honeybee Apis mellifera and the diurnal halictid bee Lasioglossum leucozonium, the eye of M. genalis shows specific retinal and optical adaptations for vision in dim light. The major anatomical adaptations within the eye of the nocturnal bee are (1) nearly twofold larger ommatidial facets and (2) a 4-5 times wider rhabdom diameter than found in the diurnal bees studied. Optically, the apposition eye of M. genalis is 27 times more sensitive to light than the eyes of the diurnal bees. This increased optical sensitivity represents a clear optical adaptation to low light intensities. Although this unique nocturnal apposition eye has a greatly improved ability to catch light, a 27-fold increase in sensitivity alone cannot account for nocturnal vision at light intensities that are 8 log units dimmer than during daytime. New evidence suggests that additional neuronal spatial summation within the first optic ganglion, the lamina, is involved.}},
  author       = {{Greiner, Birgit and Ribi, WA and Warrant, Eric}},
  issn         = {{1432-0878}},
  keywords     = {{visual system; apposition compound eye; retina; Megalopta genalis (Insecta); structure; nocturnal vision; dim light}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{377--390}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Cell and Tissue Research}},
  title        = {{Retinal and optical adaptations for nocturnal vision in the halictid bee Megalopta genalis}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00441-004-0883-9}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00441-004-0883-9}},
  volume       = {{316}},
  year         = {{2004}},
}