Hh. Seliger et al., BLUE THROUGH UV POLARIZATION SENSITIVITIES IN INSECTS - OPTIMIZATIONSFOR THE RANGE OF ATMOSPHERIC POLARIZATION CONDITIONS, Journal of comparative physiology. A, Sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology, 175(4), 1994, pp. 475-486
A Signal-to-Noise optimization model has now been extended to explain
the range of species-specific polarization sensitivities of insects. T
he different polarization sensitivities are shown to represent optimiz
ations for the detection of plane polarized (Rayleigh-scattered) skyli
ght over a range of atmospheric polarization conditions. Rhodopsin abs
orption spectra with peaks in the Blue (lambda max approximate to 450
nm) maximize detection efficiencies under conditions of high polarizat
ion. Rhodopsin absorption spectra peaking in the UV (lambda max approx
imate to 350 nm) maximize Signal-to-Noise Ratios for the detection of
polarized skylight at the other extreme of low polarization.