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While the human eye can practically cope only with two aspects of light, brightness and colour, many animals use polarization as a further source of visual information. The text starts with an introduction into imaging polarimetry, an efficient technique for measuring light polarization, and moves onto a description of the various polarization patterns occurring in nature, such as celestial polarization.The major part of the book is dedicated to the fascinating question: How do animals use polarization patterns? Following a compendium of the physiology of polarization sensitivity, several case studies are presented, such as honeybees or ants using polarized light as a compass or aquatic animals orientating by the underwater polarization. Further, it is explained how man-made objects affecting the natural optical environment may disorientate animals. For instance, as in the case where oil or glass surfaces can be more attractive for water-seeking polarotactic insects than the water surface.
List of contents
Part I: Imaging Polarimetry 1 Polarimetry: From Point-Source to Imaging Polarimeters Part II: Polarization Patterns in Nature 2 Space-Borne Measurement of Earthlight Polarization 3 Skylight Polarization 4 Principal Neutral Points of Atmospheric Polarization 5 24-Hour Change of the Polarization Pattern of the Summer Sky North of the Arctic Circle 6 Polarization Patterns of Cloudy Skies and Animal Orientation 7 Ground-Based Full-Sky Imaging Polarimetric Cloud Detection 8 Polarization Pattern of the Moonlit Clear Night Sky at Full Moon: Comparison of Moonlit and Sunlit Skies 9 Imaging Polarimetry of the Rainbow 10 Which Part of the Spectrum is Optimal for Perception of Skylight Polarization? 11 Polarization of the Sky and the Solar Corona During Total Solar Eclipses 12 Reflection-Polarization Pattern of the Flat Water Surface Measured by 180o Field-of-View Imaging Polarimetry 13 Polarization Pattern of a Fata Morgana: Why Aquatic Insects are not Attracted by Mirages? 14 Polarizational Characteristics of the Underwater World 15 Circularly Polarized Light in Nature Part III: Polarized Light in Animal Vision 16 From Polarization Sensitivity to Polarization Vision 17 Polarization Sensitivity in Terrestrial Insects 18 Polarization Sensitivity in Insects Associated with Water 19 Multiple-Choice Experiments on Dragonfly Polarotaxis: Dragonflies Find Crude Oil Visually More Attractive than Water 20 How can Dragonflies Discern Bright and Dark Waters from a Distance? The Degree of Linear Polarization of Reflected Light as a Possible Cue for Dragonfly Habitat Selection 21 Oil Reservoirs and Plastic Sheets as Polarizing Insect Traps 22 Why do Mayflies Lay Eggs on Dry Asphalt Roads? Water-Imitating Horizontally Polarized Light Reflected from Asphalt Attracts Ephemeroptera 23 Reflection-Polarizational Characteristics of Car-Bodies: Why are Water-Seeking Insects Attracted to the Bodywork of Cars? 24 Polarization Sensitivity in Spiders and Scorpions 25 Polarization Sensitivity in Crustaceans 26 Polarization Sensitivity and Polarization Patterns of the Body Surface of Cephalopods 27 Polarization-Sensitive Optomotor Reaction in Invertebrates 28 Polarization Sensitivity in Fishes 29 Polarization Sensitivity in Amphibians 30 Polarization Sensitivity in Reptiles 31 Polarization Sensitivity in Birds 32 Human Polarization Sensitivity 33 Polarization-Induced False Colours 34 A Common Methodological Error: Intensity Patterns Induced by Selective Reflection of Linearly Polarized Light from Black Surfaces Bibliography
