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Visual modelling suggests a weak relationship between the evolution of ultraviolet vision and plumage coloration in birds
Author(s) -
Lind O.,
Delhey K.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/jeb.12595
Subject(s) - plumage , biology , feather , cone (formal languages) , color vision , visual pigments , spectral sensitivity , chromatic adaptation , colour vision , trichromacy , zoology , evolutionary biology , optics , wavelength , mathematics , botany , artificial intelligence , rhodopsin , physics , retinal , algorithm , computer science
Birds have sophisticated colour vision mediated by four cone types that cover a wide visual spectrum including ultraviolet ( UV ) wavelengths. Many birds have modest UV sensitivity provided by violet‐sensitive ( VS ) cones with sensitivity maxima between 400 and 425 nm. However, some birds have evolved higher UV sensitivity and a larger visual spectrum given by UV ‐sensitive ( UVS ) cones maximally sensitive at 360–370 nm. The reasons for VS – UVS transitions and their relationship to visual ecology remain unclear. It has been hypothesized that the evolution of UVS ‐cone vision is linked to plumage colours so that visual sensitivity and feather coloration are ‘matched’. This leads to the specific prediction that UVS ‐cone vision enhances the discrimination of plumage colours of UVS birds while such an advantage is absent or less pronounced for VS ‐bird coloration. We test this hypothesis using knowledge of the complex distribution of UVS cones among birds combined with mathematical modelling of colour discrimination during different viewing conditions. We find no support for the hypothesis, which, combined with previous studies, suggests only a weak relationship between UVS ‐cone vision and plumage colour evolution. Instead, we suggest that UVS ‐cone vision generally favours colour discrimination, which creates a nonspecific selection pressure for the evolution of UVS cones.