Inter-individual differences in foveal shape in a scavenging raptor, the black kite Milvus migrans
(2020) In Scientific Reports 10(1).- Abstract
Birds, and especially raptors, are believed to forage mainly using visual cues. Indeed, raptors (scavengers and predators) have the highest visual acuity known to date. However, scavengers and predators differ in their visual systems such as in their foveal configuration. While the function of the foveal shape remains unknown, individual variation has never been quantified in birds. In this study, we examined whether foveal shape differs among individuals in relation to eye size, sex, age, eye (left or right) and genetic proximity in a scavenging raptor, the black kite Milvus migrans. We assessed foveal shape in 47 individuals using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and geometric morphometric analysis. We found that... (More)
Birds, and especially raptors, are believed to forage mainly using visual cues. Indeed, raptors (scavengers and predators) have the highest visual acuity known to date. However, scavengers and predators differ in their visual systems such as in their foveal configuration. While the function of the foveal shape remains unknown, individual variation has never been quantified in birds. In this study, we examined whether foveal shape differs among individuals in relation to eye size, sex, age, eye (left or right) and genetic proximity in a scavenging raptor, the black kite Milvus migrans. We assessed foveal shape in 47 individuals using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and geometric morphometric analysis. We found that foveal depth was significantly related to eye size. While foveal width also increased with eye size, it was strongly related to age; younger individuals had a wider fovea with a more pronounced rim. We found no relationship between foveal shape and genetic proximity, suggesting that foveal shape is not a hereditary trait. Our study revealed that the shape of the fovea is directly linked to eye size and that the physical structure of the fovea may develop during the entire life of black kites.
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- author
- Potier, Simon LU ; Mitkus, Mindaugas LU ; Lisney, Thomas J. ; Isard, Pierre François ; Dulaurent, Thomas ; Mentek, Marielle ; Cornette, Raphaël ; Schikorski, David and Kelber, Almut LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2020
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Scientific Reports
- volume
- 10
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 6133
- publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85083202300
- pmid:32273526
- ISSN
- 2045-2322
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41598-020-63039-y
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- c3121d34-667e-426a-90b9-e683ce6aa8b4
- date added to LUP
- 2020-04-28 09:16:00
- date last changed
- 2025-04-19 00:40:13
@article{c3121d34-667e-426a-90b9-e683ce6aa8b4,
abstract = {{<p>Birds, and especially raptors, are believed to forage mainly using visual cues. Indeed, raptors (scavengers and predators) have the highest visual acuity known to date. However, scavengers and predators differ in their visual systems such as in their foveal configuration. While the function of the foveal shape remains unknown, individual variation has never been quantified in birds. In this study, we examined whether foveal shape differs among individuals in relation to eye size, sex, age, eye (left or right) and genetic proximity in a scavenging raptor, the black kite Milvus migrans. We assessed foveal shape in 47 individuals using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and geometric morphometric analysis. We found that foveal depth was significantly related to eye size. While foveal width also increased with eye size, it was strongly related to age; younger individuals had a wider fovea with a more pronounced rim. We found no relationship between foveal shape and genetic proximity, suggesting that foveal shape is not a hereditary trait. Our study revealed that the shape of the fovea is directly linked to eye size and that the physical structure of the fovea may develop during the entire life of black kites.</p>}},
author = {{Potier, Simon and Mitkus, Mindaugas and Lisney, Thomas J. and Isard, Pierre François and Dulaurent, Thomas and Mentek, Marielle and Cornette, Raphaël and Schikorski, David and Kelber, Almut}},
issn = {{2045-2322}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
series = {{Scientific Reports}},
title = {{Inter-individual differences in foveal shape in a scavenging raptor, the black kite Milvus migrans}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-63039-y}},
doi = {{10.1038/s41598-020-63039-y}},
volume = {{10}},
year = {{2020}},
}