Photonic Crystal Light Collectors in Fish Retina Improve Vision in Turbid Water
Despite their diversity, vertebrate retinae are specialized to maximize either photon catch or visual acuity. Here, we describe a functional type that is optimized for neither purpose. In the retina of the elephantnose fish (Gnathonemus petersii), cone photoreceptors are grouped together within refl...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2012-06, Vol.336 (6089), p.1700-1703 |
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Format: | Artikel |
Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | Despite their diversity, vertebrate retinae are specialized to maximize either photon catch or visual acuity. Here, we describe a functional type that is optimized for neither purpose. In the retina of the elephantnose fish (Gnathonemus petersii), cone photoreceptors are grouped together within reflecting, photonic crystal-lined cups acting as macroreceptors, but rod photoreceptors are positioned behind these reflectors. This unusual arrangement matches rod and cone sensitivity for detecting color-mixed stimuli, whereas the photoreceptor grouping renders the fish insensitive to spatial noise; together, this enables more reliable flight reactions in the fish's dim and turbid habitat as compared with fish lacking this retinal specialization. |
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ISSN: | 0036-8075 1095-9203 |
DOI: | 10.1126/science.1218072 |