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Physiological characterization of the compound eye in monarch butterflies with focus on the dorsal rim area

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Abstract

The spectral, angular and polarization sensitivities of photoreceptors in the compound eye of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) are examined using electrophysiological methods. Intracellular recordings reveal a spectrally homogenous population of UV receptors with optical axes directed upwards and ≥10° to the contralateral side. Based on optical considerations and on the opsin expression pattern (Sauman et al. 2005), we conclude that these UV receptors belong to the anatomically specialized dorsal rim area (DRA) of the eye. Photoreceptors in the main retina with optical axes <10° contralateral or ipsilateral have maximal sensitivities in the UV (λmax≤340 nm), the blue (λmax=435 nm) or in the long-wave range (green, λmax=540 nm). The polarization sensitivity (PS) of the UV receptors in the DRA is much higher (PS=9.4) than in the UV cells (PS=2.9) or green cells (PS=2.8) of the main retina. The physiological properties of the photoreceptors in the DRA and in the main retina fit closely with the anatomy and the opsin expression patterns described in these eye regions. The data are discussed in the light of present knowledge about polarized skylight navigation in Lepidopterans.

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Abbreviations

DA:

Dorsal area

DRA:

Dorsal rim area

ERG:

Electroretinogram

PS:

Polarization sensitivity

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Acknowledgements

The Volkswagen Stiftung (Nachwuchsgruppe grant to H. M.), University of Oldenburg (to H. M. and J. S.), the DAAD (to J. S.) and the Swiss National Science Foundation grant 31-61844.00 (to T. L.) kindly provided financial support for this project. We would like to thank Gary D. Bernard for fruitful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. VW Nachwuchsgruppe Animal Navigation, IBU, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany

    Julia Stalleicken & Henrik Mouritsen

  2. Zoological Institute, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland

    Thomas Labhart

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  1. Julia Stalleicken
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  2. Thomas Labhart
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Correspondence to Julia Stalleicken.

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Stalleicken, J., Labhart, T. & Mouritsen, H. Physiological characterization of the compound eye in monarch butterflies with focus on the dorsal rim area. J Comp Physiol A 192, 321–331 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-005-0073-6

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