Readers will gain insight into the invisible world - for human eyes - of polarized light and the way most animals can see it

The subject of this volume is two-fold. First, it gathers typical polarization patterns occurring in nature. Second, it surveys the polarization-sensitive ani mals, the physiological mechanisms and biological functions of polarization sensitivity as weIl as the polarization-guided behaviour in animals. The monograph is prepared for biologists, physicists and meteorologists, espe cially for experts of atmospheric optics and animal vision, who wish to under stand and reveal the message hidden in polarization patterns of the optical environment not directly accessible to the human visual system, but measur able by polarimetry and perceived by many animals. Our volume is an attempt to build a bridge between these two physical and biological flelds. In Part I we introduce the reader to the elements of imaging polarimetry. This technique can be efflciently used, e. g. in atmospheric optics, remote sens ing and biology. In Part 11 we deal with typical polarization patterns of the natural optical environment. Sunrise/sunset, clear skies, cloudy skies, moonshine and total solar eclipses all mean quite different illumination conditions, wh ich also affect the spatial distribution and strength of celestial polarization. We pre sent the polarization patterns of the sky and its unpolarized (neutral) points under sunlit, moonlit, clear, cloudy and eclipsed conditions as a function of solar elevation. The polarization pattern of a rainbow is also shown. That part of the spectrum is derived in which perception of skylight polarization is optimal under partly cloudy skies.

Comprehensive treatment of this fascinating phenomenon, treating the physical, meterological and physiological aspects adequately Illustrated with over hundred figures and additional 16 superb colour plates Includes vivid case studies of various species, from insects, birds or fishes The authors, both physicists, are well known experts, they received many awards and prizes for their biophysical work Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Klappentext

While the human eye can practically cope only with two aspects of light, brightness and colour, for many animals polarization is a further source of visual information.

This fascinating phenomenon of polarization sensitivity is comprehensively treated by Horvath and Varju. Starting with a short introduction into imaging polarimetry - an efficient technique for measuring light polarization - various polarization patterns occurring in nature are presented. Among them are the polarizational characteristics of water surfaces, mirages and the underwater light field as well as the celestial polarization patterns affected by the illumination conditions of sunrise, sunset, clear or cloudy skies, moonshine and total solar eclipses.

The major part of the book is dedicated to the question: How can animals perceive and use the natural and artificial polarization patterns? Following a detailed compendium of the physiological basis of polarization sensitivity, several case studies of animal behaviour determined or influenced by polarization are presented. It is shown how arial, terrestrial and aquatic animals use the celestial and underwater polarization for orientation, e. g. how polarized light serves honeybees or ants as a compass. 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, asphalt roads, or plastic sheets used in agriculture can be more attractive for water-seeking polarotactic insects than the water surface, and where mayflies lay their eggs on dry asphalt roads or cars.

Inhalt
I: Imaging Polarimetry.- 1 Polarimetry: From Point-Source to Imaging Polarimeters.- 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 180° 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.- 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.- 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-PolarizationalCharacteristics 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 in Cephalopods and Marine Snails.- 27 Polarization-Sensitive Optomotor Reaction in Invertebrates.- 28 Polarization Sensitivity in Fish.- 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.- Rerences.- Colour Illustrations.