The function and consequences of fluorescence in tetrapods
Nicolaï, Michaël P J ; Bok, Michael J LU ; Abalos, Javier LU
; D'Alba, Liliana
; Shawkey, Matthew D
and Goldenberg, Jonathan
LU
(2024)
In Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
121(24).
p.2318189121-2318189121
- Abstract
Fluorescence, the optical phenomenon whereby short-wavelength light is absorbed and emitted at longer wavelengths, has been widely described in aquatic habitats, in both invertebrates and fish. Recent years have seen a stream of articles reporting fluorescence, ranging from frogs, platypus, to even fully terrestrial organisms such as flying squirrels, often explicitly or implicitly linking the presence of fluorescence with sexual selection and communication. However, many of these studies fail to consider the physiological requirements of evolutionary stable signaling systems, the environmental dependence of perception, or the possible adaptive role of fluorescent coloration in a noncommunicative context. More importantly, the idea that... (More)
Fluorescence, the optical phenomenon whereby short-wavelength light is absorbed and emitted at longer wavelengths, has been widely described in aquatic habitats, in both invertebrates and fish. Recent years have seen a stream of articles reporting fluorescence, ranging from frogs, platypus, to even fully terrestrial organisms such as flying squirrels, often explicitly or implicitly linking the presence of fluorescence with sexual selection and communication. However, many of these studies fail to consider the physiological requirements of evolutionary stable signaling systems, the environmental dependence of perception, or the possible adaptive role of fluorescent coloration in a noncommunicative context. More importantly, the idea that fluorescence may simply constitute an indirect by-product of selection on other traits is often not explored. This is especially true for terrestrial systems where environmental light conditions are often not amenable for fluorescent signaling in contrast to, for example, aquatic habitats in which spectral properties of water promote functional roles for fluorescence. Despite the appeal of previously unknown ways in which coloration may drive evolution, the investigation of a putative role of fluorescence in communication must be tempered by a realistic understanding of its limitations. Here, we not only highlight and discuss the key body of literature but also address the potential pitfalls when reporting fluorescence and how to solve them. In addition, we propose exciting different research avenues to advance the field of tetrapod fluorescence.
(Less)
- author
- Nicolaï, Michaël P J
; Bok, Michael J
LU
; Abalos, Javier
LU
; D'Alba, Liliana
; Shawkey, Matthew D
and Goldenberg, Jonathan
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-06-11
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Animals, Fluorescence, Biological Evolution, Vertebrates/physiology, Animal Communication, Ecosystem
- in
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
- volume
- 121
- issue
- 24
- pages
- 2318189121 - 2318189121
- publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:38814876
- scopus:85195796646
- ISSN
- 1091-6490
- DOI
- 10.1073/pnas.2318189121
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 5066d522-359f-49d0-b16c-5306cbc89785
- date added to LUP
- 2024-06-22 01:20:00
- date last changed
- 2024-07-03 02:18:24
@article{5066d522-359f-49d0-b16c-5306cbc89785,
abstract = {{<p>Fluorescence, the optical phenomenon whereby short-wavelength light is absorbed and emitted at longer wavelengths, has been widely described in aquatic habitats, in both invertebrates and fish. Recent years have seen a stream of articles reporting fluorescence, ranging from frogs, platypus, to even fully terrestrial organisms such as flying squirrels, often explicitly or implicitly linking the presence of fluorescence with sexual selection and communication. However, many of these studies fail to consider the physiological requirements of evolutionary stable signaling systems, the environmental dependence of perception, or the possible adaptive role of fluorescent coloration in a noncommunicative context. More importantly, the idea that fluorescence may simply constitute an indirect by-product of selection on other traits is often not explored. This is especially true for terrestrial systems where environmental light conditions are often not amenable for fluorescent signaling in contrast to, for example, aquatic habitats in which spectral properties of water promote functional roles for fluorescence. Despite the appeal of previously unknown ways in which coloration may drive evolution, the investigation of a putative role of fluorescence in communication must be tempered by a realistic understanding of its limitations. Here, we not only highlight and discuss the key body of literature but also address the potential pitfalls when reporting fluorescence and how to solve them. In addition, we propose exciting different research avenues to advance the field of tetrapod fluorescence.</p>}},
author = {{Nicolaï, Michaël P J and Bok, Michael J and Abalos, Javier and D'Alba, Liliana and Shawkey, Matthew D and Goldenberg, Jonathan}},
issn = {{1091-6490}},
keywords = {{Animals; Fluorescence; Biological Evolution; Vertebrates/physiology; Animal Communication; Ecosystem}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{06}},
number = {{24}},
pages = {{2318189121--2318189121}},
publisher = {{National Academy of Sciences}},
series = {{Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}},
title = {{The function and consequences of fluorescence in tetrapods}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2318189121}},
doi = {{10.1073/pnas.2318189121}},
volume = {{121}},
year = {{2024}},
}