QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by NOVALES-FLAMARIQUE, I. Articles by HAWRYSHYN, C. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by NOVALES-FLAMARIQUE, I. Articles by HAWRYSHYN, C. W. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Journal of Experimental Biology 169,121-141 (1992)
Published by Company of Biologists 1992

The Photic Environment of a Salmontd Nursery Lake

IÑIGO NOVALES-FLAMARIQUE ¹, ANDREW HENDRY ², and CRAIG W. HAWRYSHYN ¹

¹ Laboratory of Sensory Biology, Department of Biology, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700, Victoria BC, Canada V8W 2Y2
² School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA

The spectral characteristics of Lake Cowichan (Vancouver Island) were examined using a LiCor underwater spectroradiometer. The results were analyzed in terms of salmonid vision with special emphasis placed on the ultraviolet part of the spectrum. Irradiance measurements were taken by SCUBA divers every 3 m from 18m to the surface at each of seven locations. The measurements at each depth consisted of four scans from 300 to 850 nm of downwelling, upwelling and horizontal light in the sun and antisun directions. The study covered different times of day and variable atmospheric conditions. According to predictions from the absorptive properties of water molecules and scattering by these and suspended particulates, it was found that the ultraviolet part of the spectrum was the least transmitted. The light field varied in intensity and dominant wavelengths depending on direction and time of day. The relative proportion of ultraviolet, short and middle wavelengths with respect to the entire spectrum peaked during crepuscular periods; the opposite was true for long wavelengths. An analysis of the irradiance values with respect to salmonid vision showed that there was enough light to stimulate all the photoreceptor mechanisms found in juvenile salmonid retinae (sensitive to ultraviolet, short, middle and long wavelengths) at all depths studied. Nevertheless, 18 m was found to be the limiting depth for stimulation of the ultraviolet cone mechanism, which is required for perception of ultraviolet polarized light. This depth restriction may be linked to the observed salmonid movements close to the surface during crepuscular periods.

Key words: spectral irradiance, ultraviolet light, photoreceptor, phytoplankton, sahnonids, nursery lake

Accepted on April 30, 1992

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. E. Temple, K. M. Veldhoen, J. T. Phelan, N. J. Veldhoen, and C. W. Hawryshyn Ontogenetic changes in photoreceptor opsin gene expression in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch, Walbaum) J. Exp. Biol., December 15, 2008; 211(24): 3879 - 3888. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I Novales Flamarique, G.A Mueller, C.L Cheng, and C.R Figiel Communication using eye roll reflective signalling Proc R Soc B, March 22, 2007; 274(1611): 877 - 882. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. N. Flamarique and H. I. Browman Foraging and prey-search behaviour of small juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) under polarized light J. Exp. Biol., March 9, 2002; 204(14): 2415 - 2422. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Parkyn and C. Hawryshyn Spectral and ultraviolet-polarisation sensitivity in juvenile salmonids: a comparative analysis using electrophysiology J. Exp. Biol., January 4, 2000; 203(7): 1173 - 1191. [Abstract] [PDF]