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Multifocal lenses in a monochromat: the harbour seal

Hanke, Frederike D. ; Kröger, Ronald LU ; Siebert, Ursula and Dehnhardt, Guido (2008) In Journal of Experimental Biology 211(20). p.3315-3322
Abstract
Previous photorefractive results from harbour seals indicated the presence of a multifocal lens. This was surprising because the evolution of multifocal lenses has served to compensate for chromatic aberration in animals with colour vision, which harbour seals as monochromats should not be capable of. To gain insight into the lens optics of these animals, we extended our photorefractive measurements in live seals under water and in air and, additionally, analyzed eight extracted juvenile harbour seal lenses with schlieren photography and a laser scanning technique. The results from all methods applied support the presence of multifocal lenses in harbour seals. However, the functional significance of multiple focal lengths in harbour seal... (More)
Previous photorefractive results from harbour seals indicated the presence of a multifocal lens. This was surprising because the evolution of multifocal lenses has served to compensate for chromatic aberration in animals with colour vision, which harbour seals as monochromats should not be capable of. To gain insight into the lens optics of these animals, we extended our photorefractive measurements in live seals under water and in air and, additionally, analyzed eight extracted juvenile harbour seal lenses with schlieren photography and a laser scanning technique. The results from all methods applied support the presence of multifocal lenses in harbour seals. However, the functional significance of multiple focal lengths in harbour seal lenses remains speculative. Interestingly, the slit pupils of harbour seals cannot be considered to be an adaptation to the multifocal optical system of the eye. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
lens, harbour seal, Phoca vitulina, multifocal
in
Journal of Experimental Biology
volume
211
issue
20
pages
3315 - 3322
publisher
The Company of Biologists Ltd
external identifiers
  • wos:000259866400016
  • scopus:55549121249
  • pmid:18840666
ISSN
1477-9145
DOI
10.1242/jeb.018747
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9209b899-1f79-47d3-9882-731dfcac2fe7 (old id 1285734)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:26:06
date last changed
2022-01-27 03:43:59
@article{9209b899-1f79-47d3-9882-731dfcac2fe7,
  abstract     = {{Previous photorefractive results from harbour seals indicated the presence of a multifocal lens. This was surprising because the evolution of multifocal lenses has served to compensate for chromatic aberration in animals with colour vision, which harbour seals as monochromats should not be capable of. To gain insight into the lens optics of these animals, we extended our photorefractive measurements in live seals under water and in air and, additionally, analyzed eight extracted juvenile harbour seal lenses with schlieren photography and a laser scanning technique. The results from all methods applied support the presence of multifocal lenses in harbour seals. However, the functional significance of multiple focal lengths in harbour seal lenses remains speculative. Interestingly, the slit pupils of harbour seals cannot be considered to be an adaptation to the multifocal optical system of the eye.}},
  author       = {{Hanke, Frederike D. and Kröger, Ronald and Siebert, Ursula and Dehnhardt, Guido}},
  issn         = {{1477-9145}},
  keywords     = {{lens; harbour seal; Phoca vitulina; multifocal}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{20}},
  pages        = {{3315--3322}},
  publisher    = {{The Company of Biologists Ltd}},
  series       = {{Journal of Experimental Biology}},
  title        = {{Multifocal lenses in a monochromat: the harbour seal}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.018747}},
  doi          = {{10.1242/jeb.018747}},
  volume       = {{211}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}