Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia.
J Exp Biol. 2019 Feb 7;222(Pt 3):jeb134213. doi: 10.1242/jeb.134213.
Most polarisation vision studies reveal elegant examples of how animals, mainly the invertebrates, use polarised light cues for navigation, course-control or habitat selection. Within the past two decades it has been recognised that polarised light, reflected, blocked or transmitted by some animal and plant tissues, may also provide signals that are received or sent between or within species. Much as animals use colour and colour signalling in behaviour and survival, other species additionally make use of polarisation signalling, or indeed may rely on polarisation-based signals instead. It is possible that the degree (or percentage) of polarisation provides a more reliable currency of information than the angle or orientation of the polarised light electric vector (e-vector). Alternatively, signals with specific e-vector angles may be important for some behaviours. Mixed messages, making use of polarisation and colour signals, also exist. While our knowledge of the physics of polarised reflections and sensory systems has increased, the observational and behavioural biology side of the story needs more (and more careful) attention. This Review aims to critically examine recent ideas and findings, and suggests ways forward to reveal the use of light that we cannot see.
大多数偏振视觉研究揭示了一个优雅的例子，说明动物（主要是无脊椎动物）如何利用偏振光线索进行导航、控制方向或选择栖息地。在过去的二十年中，人们已经认识到，一些动物和植物组织反射、阻挡或透射的偏振光，也可能提供物种之间或内部接收或发送的信号。就像动物在行为和生存中利用颜色和颜色信号一样，其他物种还额外利用偏振信号，或者实际上可能依赖于基于偏振的信号。偏振度（或百分比）提供的信息可能比偏振光电矢量（e-vector）的角度或方向更可靠。或者，具有特定 e-vector 角度的信号可能对某些行为很重要。也存在混合信息，同时利用偏振和颜色信号。虽然我们对偏振反射和感觉系统的物理学有了更多的了解，但故事的观察和行为生物学方面需要更多（更仔细）的关注。这篇综述旨在批判性地审查最近的想法和发现，并提出前进的方向，以揭示我们看不见的光的用途。
