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SUMMARY:Seeing with Sunscreens: How mantis shrimp build and utilize nature
 ’s most elaborate ultraviolet receptor array - Michael Bok (University o
 f Bristol)
DTSTART:20171011T120000Z
DTEND:20171011T130000Z
UID:TALK88521@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Olivia Tidswell
DESCRIPTION:Mantis shrimp possess wildly elaborate visual systems with var
 ious photoreceptor types sensitive to at least 14 distinct chromatic chan
 nels of light. Perhaps least understood amongst these photoreceptors are t
 he ultraviolet (UV) receptors\, of which there are up to six spectral type
 s maximally sensitive to wavelengths of light between 310 and 380 nm. We h
 ave discovered that these finely-tuned UV receptors are produced with the 
 aid of a unique array of UV-specific filters. These filters are composed o
 f mycosporine-like amino acids\, commonly termed "biological sunscreens"\,
  which are usually implicated in photo-protection in marine organisms\, bu
 t have been diversified and localized to specific regions of the mantis sh
 rimp compound eye. Furthermore\, we examine the behavioral implications of
  polychromatic UV sensitivity in mantis shrimp\, and suggest a role for th
 ese photoreceptors in communication to mediate aggressive interactions and
  courtship.
LOCATION:Part II Lecture Theatre\, Department of Zoology
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