Spectral sensitivity of juvenile chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) in visible and ultraviolet light.
Although chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) is widely distributed all over the world, the relevance of its visual sensitivity to its ecology is not yet fully understood. We investigated spectral sensitivity in juvenile chub mackerel in the range of ultraviolet (UV) to visible light (369-652 nm) by electroretinogram (ERG) using light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Sensitivity peaked at a wavelength of approximately 482 nm in dark-adapted fish and 525 nm in light-adapted fish. A secondary sensitivity peak in the UV range at approximately 382 nm was found in both dark- and light-adapted fish. The UV sensitivity of chub mackerel may be attributable to UV transmissibility of the optical media and to the presence of a beta-band of visible light-sensitive visual pigments, and not to an alpha-band of UV visual pigments. This UV sensitivity may be useful for feeding or communication with other fishes.
Matsumoto
Taro
T
Department of Fisheries, School of Agriculture, Kinki University, Naka, Nara 631-8505, Japan.
Ihara
Hiroshi
H
Ishida
Yoshinari
Y
Yamamoto
Shinji
S
Murata
Osamu
O
Ishibashi
Yasunori
Y
D000818:Animals; D004596:Electroretinography; D008027:Light; D010473:Perciformes / Q000502:physiology*; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000502:physiology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D012168:Retinal Pigments