Polarization signals in mantis shrimps

Thomas W. Cronin; Tsyr-Huei Chiou; Roy L. Caldwell; Nicholas Roberts; Justin Marshall

doi:10.1117/12.828492

11 August 2009 Polarization signals in mantis shrimps

Thomas W. Cronin, Tsyr-Huei Chiou, Roy L. Caldwell, Nicholas Roberts, Justin Marshall

Proceedings Volume 7461, Polarization Science and Remote Sensing IV; 74610C (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.828492
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2009, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

While color signals are well known as a form of animal communication, a number of animals communicate using signals based on patterns of polarized light reflected from specialized body parts or structures. Mantis shrimps, a group of marine crustaceans, have evolved a great diversity of such signals, several of which are based on photonic structures. These include resonant scattering devices, structures based on layered dichroic molecules, and structures that use birefringent layers to produce circular polarization. Such biological polarizers operate in different spectral regions ranging from the near-UV to medium wavelengths of visible light. In addition to the structures that are specialized for signal production, the eyes of many species of mantis shrimp are adapted to detect linearly polarized light in the ultraviolet and in the green, using specialized sets of photoreceptors with oriented, dichroic visual pigments. Finally, a few mantis shrimp species produce biophotonic retarders within their photoreceptors that permit the detection of circularly polarized light and are thus the only animals known to sense this form of polarization. Mantis shrimps use polarized light in species-specific signals related to mating and territorial defense, and their means of manipulating light's polarization can inspire designs for artificial polarizers and achromatic retarders.

Citation Download Citation

Thomas W. Cronin, Tsyr-Huei Chiou, Roy L. Caldwell, Nicholas Roberts, and Justin Marshall "Polarization signals in mantis shrimps", Proc. SPIE 7461, Polarization Science and Remote Sensing IV, 74610C (11 August 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.828492

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available