The relevance of the brightness to visual acuity, predation, and activity of visually hunting ground-beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae)
- 1 January 1977
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Nature in Oecologia
- Vol. 30 (1), 63-73
- https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00344892
Abstract
Carabid species of the visually hunting type living in dim habitats have larger frontal ommatidia and gain their optimal visual performance with lower light intensity than species inhabiting bright places. The latter phenomenon is based upon the mechanisms of light adaptation, which reduce the acceptance angles of the ommatidia thus increasing their visual acuity. In more sensitive ommatidia adaptation occurs with lower light intensity. The differences between the species concerning the intensity dependence of their visual performance are regarded as an effect of natural selection. Thereafter an apposition eye more sensitive to light should be advantageous in a dim environment. This hypothesis has been investigated and verified by observation of the predation behaviour of Notiophilus biguttatus confronted with Collembola: From 1 to 500 lux the hunting success of the beetles increased proportionally to the light intensity. Measurements of the activity at dawn and at dusk under natural conditions showed that the beginning and the conclusion of activity are correlated with a critical level of illumination. Notiophilus biguttatus starts being active if the illumination is sufficient for successful hunting.Keywords
This publication has 29 references indexed in Scilit:
- Zur Morphologie des Dorsal- und Ventralauges des TaumelkäfersGyrinus substriatus (Steph.) (Coleoptera, Gyrinidae)Zoomorphology, 1975
- Adult and larval feeding habits ofPterostichus madidus(F.) (Coleoptera: Carabidae)Journal of Natural History, 1974
- Zum binokularen Entfernungssehen der InsektenJournal of Comparative Physiology A, 1973
- Die Feinstruktur im Auge der Biene bei Hell- und DunkeladaptationJournal of Comparative Physiology A, 1972
- Alternatives to superposition images in clear-zone compound eyesProceedings of the Royal Society of London. B. Biological Sciences, 1971
- Movement on dark–light adaptation in beetle eyes of the neuropteran typeProceedings of the Royal Society of London. B. Biological Sciences, 1971
- DAILY RHYTHMS OF LOCOMOTOR ACTIVITY IN SOME CARABIDAE (COLEOPTERA)Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 1963
- THE VISUAL ACUITY OF THE FIDDLER-CRAB, UCA PUGNAXThe Journal of general physiology, 1935
- THE VISUAL ACUITY AND INTENSITY DISCRIMINATION OF DROSOPHILAThe Journal of general physiology, 1934
- THE VISUAL ACUITY OF THE HONEY BEEThe Journal of general physiology, 1929