Evolution of Ultraviolet Vision in Birds

Richa Banthia

BIOL 3040 Sec. 1

Violet vs. Ultraviolet

• Violet vision is the 405-420 nm zone

• Ultraviolet light falls right below 355-380 nm

Pigeons, Waterfowls, Woodpeckers Blue grosbeaks, Blackbirds, Common kestrels

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Ultraviolet is sensitivity

to light below

380-400 nm http://www.flightcontrol.com/images/uvdeter_clip_image002.gif

Physiology

• Tetrachromacyis the presence of 4 different cone cells in the eye.

• Roughly divided into red, green, blue, and ultraviolet.

http://glimpsejournal.com/public/journals/1/images/2.3-Jameson-Kimberly-A-Human-Potential-for-Tetrachromacy_clip_image016_0000.jpg

Four Photoreceptors Short wave opsins

• SWS1 gene: ultraviolet to blue

• SWS2 gene: violet to blue

Medium wave opsins

• MWS/LWS: green to red

Rhodopsin like opsins

• RH2: blue to green

http://arthropoda.southernfriedscience.com/?p=3901

History of UV Vision Research

• UV vision was first seen in birds in the 1970s

• 4/14 orders of birds are UV sensitive

• Passerines are the ideal study model

Genomic Sequencing of Opsins

• SWS1 gene

• Single nucleotide shifts: Serine substituted by cysteine site 90 spectral tuning site

Order Common name aa seq. 84-94Colour vision

Falconiformes Northern Crested Caracara

FISYTFSVFTV VS

Passeriformes Willow Warbler LMMCIFCIFTV UVS

Phylogenetics

Function of UV Vision

1. Mate Choice• Female blue

tits base mate choice on the UV coloration of the male’s crown.

Function of UV Vision

2. OrientationCryptochromes are proteins that help regulate the Circadian rhythm of birds and are involved in their magnetic compasses.

European robin and domesticated chicken

Function of UV Vision

3. Avoiding Predators Private channel of

communication

• Speculated that UV vision is used as a private channel of communication since predators are NOT UV sensitive.

• Swedish songbirds avoid sparrow hawks using this method.

Function of UV Vision

4. Foraging Kestrels can track voles by

detecting their urine which is UV absorbant.

Ultraviolet vision and foraging in terrestrial vertebratesJohanna Honkavaara, Minna Koivula, Erkki Korpimaki, Heli Siitari and

Jussi Viitala¨

Future of this research

Private channels of communications could be HUGE insight into evolution of birds.

Private Channels & Humans

• Private channels of communications could be HUGE insight into evolution of birds.

Works Cited Anthes, Nile et al. Animal Behavior: Evolution and Mechanisms. London: Springer, 2010. Web.

Cummings, Molly E., Gil G. Rosenthal, and Michael J. Ryan. "A Private Ultraviolet Channel In Visual Communication." Proceedings Of The Royal Society Biological Sciences Series B 270.1518 (n.d.): 897-904. Biological Abstracts 1969 - Present. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.

Hastad, Olle, Jonas Victorsson, and Anders Odeen. "Differences In Color Vision Make Passerines Less Conspicuous In The Eyes Of Their Predators." Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 102.18 (n.d.): 6391-6394. Biological Abstracts 1969 - Present. Web. 16 Apr. 2013

Hill, Geoffrey E. National Geographic Bird Coloration.

Hill, Geoffrey E. and Kevin J. McGraw. Bird Coloration Volume 2: Function and Evolution. Boston: Harvard University Press, 2006. Web.

Horth, L. "Sensory Genes And Mate Choice: Evidence That Duplications, Mutations, And Adaptive Evolution Alter Variation In Mating Cue Genes And Their Receptors." Genomics 90.2 (n.d.): 159-175. Science Citation Index. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.

Hunt Sarah, et al. "Ultraviolet Vision In Birds." Advances In The Study Of Behavior 29.(2000): 159-214. ScienceDirect. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.

Odeen, A, O Hastad, and P Alstrom. "Evolution Of Ultraviolet Vision In The Largest Avian Radiation - The Passerines." Bmc Evolutionary Biology 11.(n.d.): Science Citation Index. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.

Roswitha Wiltschko, et al. "Avian Ultraviolet/Violet Cones Identified As Probable Magnetoreceptors." Plos One 6.5 (2011): e20091.MEDLINE. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.