Visual modelling suggests a weak relationship between the evolution of ultraviolet vision and plumage coloration in birds.
(2015) In Journal of evolutionary biology 28(3). p.715-722- Abstract
- Birds have sophisticated colour vision mediated by four cone types that cover a wide visual spectrum including ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. Many birds have modest UV sensitivity provided by violet-sensitive (VS) cones with sensitivity maxima between 400 and 425 nm. However, some birds have evolved higher UV sensitivity and a larger visual spectrum given by UV-sensitive (UVS) cones maximally sensitive at 360-370 nm. The reasons for VS-UVS transitions and their relationship to visual ecology remain unclear. It has been hypothesized that the evolution of UVS-cone vision is linked to plumage colours so that visual sensitivity and feather coloration are 'matched'. This leads to the specific prediction that UVS-cone vision enhances the... (More)
- Birds have sophisticated colour vision mediated by four cone types that cover a wide visual spectrum including ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. Many birds have modest UV sensitivity provided by violet-sensitive (VS) cones with sensitivity maxima between 400 and 425 nm. However, some birds have evolved higher UV sensitivity and a larger visual spectrum given by UV-sensitive (UVS) cones maximally sensitive at 360-370 nm. The reasons for VS-UVS transitions and their relationship to visual ecology remain unclear. It has been hypothesized that the evolution of UVS-cone vision is linked to plumage colours so that visual sensitivity and feather coloration are 'matched'. This leads to the specific prediction that UVS-cone vision enhances the discrimination of plumage colours of UVS birds while such an advantage is absent or less pronounced for VS-bird coloration. We test this hypothesis using knowledge of the complex distribution of UVS cones among birds combined with mathematical modelling of colour discrimination during different viewing conditions. We find no support for the hypothesis, which, combined with previous studies, suggests only a weak relationship between UVS-cone vision and plumage colour evolution. Instead, we suggest that UVS-cone vision generally favours colour discrimination, which creates a nonspecific selection pressure for the evolution of UVS cones. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/5144994
- author
- Lind, Olle LU and Delhey, K
- organization
- publishing date
- 2015
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- bird vision, evolution, plumage coloration, spectral sensitivity, ultraviolet sensitivity, visual ecology
- in
- Journal of evolutionary biology
- volume
- 28
- issue
- 3
- pages
- 715 - 722
- publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Inc.
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:25664902
- wos:000352628400017
- scopus:84926251861
- pmid:25664902
- ISSN
- 1420-9101
- DOI
- 10.1111/jeb.12595
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Published online 21 February 2015
- id
- ad29fef6-af8f-480a-98c7-56a5d14f557f (old id 5144994)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 10:27:27
- date last changed
- 2022-04-27 22:19:37
@article{ad29fef6-af8f-480a-98c7-56a5d14f557f,
abstract = {{Birds have sophisticated colour vision mediated by four cone types that cover a wide visual spectrum including ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. Many birds have modest UV sensitivity provided by violet-sensitive (VS) cones with sensitivity maxima between 400 and 425 nm. However, some birds have evolved higher UV sensitivity and a larger visual spectrum given by UV-sensitive (UVS) cones maximally sensitive at 360-370 nm. The reasons for VS-UVS transitions and their relationship to visual ecology remain unclear. It has been hypothesized that the evolution of UVS-cone vision is linked to plumage colours so that visual sensitivity and feather coloration are 'matched'. This leads to the specific prediction that UVS-cone vision enhances the discrimination of plumage colours of UVS birds while such an advantage is absent or less pronounced for VS-bird coloration. We test this hypothesis using knowledge of the complex distribution of UVS cones among birds combined with mathematical modelling of colour discrimination during different viewing conditions. We find no support for the hypothesis, which, combined with previous studies, suggests only a weak relationship between UVS-cone vision and plumage colour evolution. Instead, we suggest that UVS-cone vision generally favours colour discrimination, which creates a nonspecific selection pressure for the evolution of UVS cones.}},
author = {{Lind, Olle and Delhey, K}},
issn = {{1420-9101}},
keywords = {{bird vision; evolution; plumage coloration; spectral sensitivity; ultraviolet sensitivity; visual ecology}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{715--722}},
publisher = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
series = {{Journal of evolutionary biology}},
title = {{Visual modelling suggests a weak relationship between the evolution of ultraviolet vision and plumage coloration in birds.}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jeb.12595}},
doi = {{10.1111/jeb.12595}},
volume = {{28}},
year = {{2015}},
}