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First published online August 4, 2005
Journal of Experimental Biology 208, 3037-3046 (2005)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2005
doi: 10.1242/jeb.01750
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Behavioural discrimination of polarized light in the damselfish Chromis viridis (family Pomacentridae)

Martina Mussi, Theodore J. Haimberger and Craig W. Hawryshyn*

Department of Biology, University of Victoria, PO Box 3020 Stn. CSC, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 3N5

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: chawrysh{at}uvic.ca)

Accepted 13 June 2005

In this study, we demonstrate the capacity for damselfish (green chromis, Chromis viridis) to discriminate between different e-vector orientations of ultraviolet polarized light. We examined the ability of green chromis to resolve small differences in e-vector orientation of ultraviolet polarized light. Fish were successfully trained to swim towards an e-vector orientation of polarized light using a behavioural chamber. C. viridis was able to discriminate between the horizontal and the vertical plane of ultraviolet polarized light independent of brightness content of the stimuli. However, e-vector discrimination capability disappeared when the ultraviolet portion of the light stimuli was removed, indicating that the presence of ultraviolet light was critical for e-vector discrimination. Fish could also distinguish between relatively small e-vector orientations of ultraviolet polarized light. Functional implications for high e-vector discriminative capabilities could be used in functional domains such as feeding and communication.

Key words: fish behaviour, visual behaviour, polarization sensitivity, e-vector, discrimination, fish vision


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