Navigation Links
Basketball-sized eyes help squids play defense
Date:3/17/2012

DURHAM, N.C. -- Giant and colossal squids have eyes as big as basketballs, and a Duke scientist thinks he knows why.

"They're most likely using their huge eyes to spot and escape their predators, sperm whales," said Duke biologist Snke Johnsen.

Johnsen collaborated with a group of biologists to model, both physically and biologically, how and why a squid uses such a big eye. The team found that the design and size of the eye give squids the ability to see approaching sperm whales as they disturb bioluminescent organisms. The study appears in the March 15 Current Biology.

Big squids come in two types -- giant and colossal. They can grow to weights of five adult men put together, which is comparable to a large swordfish. But swordfish eyes are about the size of softballs, about 3 inches in diameter.

"It doesn't make sense a giant squid and swordfish are similar in size but the squid's eyes are proportionally much larger, three times the diameter and 27 times the volume," Johnsen said. "The question is why. Why do giant squid need such large eyes?"

To explain the squids' eye size, Johnsen and his collaborators first measured giant and colossal squid eyes using photos and captured animals. They also found data on the water clarity and amount of light at the ocean depths where the squid live -- typically 300 to 1000 meters. Using this information, the scientists began to mathematically model how the creatures' eyes would work and what they could see.

The team found that the squids' large eyes collect more light compared to animals of similar size but with smaller eyes. The extra light intake improves the squid's ability to detect small contrast differences under the dim conditions of the deep ocean, they argue. Johnsen said this ability doesn't matter much to the majority of deep-sea animals, which are looking at small objects that become too small to see before they fade away.

But the boos
'/>"/>

Contact: Ashley Yeager
ashley.yeager@duke.edu
919-681-8057
Duke University
Source:Eurekalert  

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. What causes cell defenses to crumble?
2. Researchers recreate SARS virus, open door for potential defenses against future strains
3. New dummy design and development wins US Department of Defense award
4. Lockheed Martin Team Wins Role on Key Department of Defense Biometrics Contract Vehicle
5. Raytheon Chosen to Help Provide Department of Defense Biometrics Operations and Support Services
6. ASM biodefense and emerging diseases research meeting
7. SectorWatch.biz Issues Commentary for Investors of Homeland Defense Companies FOUR, MAGS, NSSC, PNTR, BCO, and CKP
8. CSC Awarded Department of Defense Biometrics Contract
9. Understanding natural crop defenses
10. Reforming defense department acquisition policy: UM expert
11. Researchers discover primer to plant defense system
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
Basketball-sized eyes help squids play defense
(Date:5/23/2013)... of the world are billions of animal and plant ... and grasses, all stacked, stored and preserved in jars ... could be critical to understanding how the Earth,s biodiversity ... footprint if only the information were easily accessible. ... the help of a team from the University of ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... in Neuron , the team reveal the interplay ... work funded by the Wellcome Trust and BBSRC. ... stimuli we improve our perceptual abilities. While these changes ... can also affect the fidelity of that response. ... Neuroscience explains: "When you communicate with others, you can ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... 2013 U.S. Forest Service scientists are part of ... from the TKF Foundation, will examine how collaborative planning ... recover from tragedy. , The TKF Foundation announced today ... selected for grant funding. In addition to research on ... recovery and resiliency, the 3-year, $585,000 grant will contribute ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):CU-Boulder helps tap crowds to digitize museum records of bugs and plants 2CU-Boulder helps tap crowds to digitize museum records of bugs and plants 3CU-Boulder helps tap crowds to digitize museum records of bugs and plants 4'Landscapes of Resilience' to study how people use nature as a source of recovery 2
... maxim: you are what you eat and, more to ... the brain. The findings offer insight into the neurobiological factors ... developed countries. The findings exposed changes in brain chemistry due ... 2009, the Society for Neuroscience,s annual meeting and the world,s ...
... Assistance in Area of National Need program has awarded ... to support a new graduate fellowship training program in ... next three years. An additional 25 percent match ... Biology and K-State,s office of research and sponsored programs, ...
... (Oct. 20, 2009) -- Rice University scientists have won ... Health to scrutinize the influenza A virus for clues ... of influenza A include this year,s pandemic H1N1 variety, ... Under the four-year program, biochemists in the laboratory ...
Cached Biology News:Think what you eat: Studies point to cellular factors linking diet and behavior 2K-State receives more than $780,000 to fund graduate students studying ecology, evolution, genomics 2Flu focus: NIH project aims for better drugs 2
(Date:5/24/2013)... 2013 Bed bug cases tend to increase ... the looming higher risk of becoming the pests' next victim ... bug guideline. In the guide, the company enumerated the steps ... them while traveling. , According to My Cleaning Products, ... bed bug infestation during summer: the warm weather and the ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... 24, 2013 The Oklahoma tornado ... its ravage, the mayor of Moore, one of the heavily ... said a report from cnn.com. Reaching out to also be ... Molderizer and Safe Shield to counter the looming mold problem. ... on May 22, 2013, caused 24 deaths, My Cleaning Products ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... May 23, 2013 Venaxis, Inc. (Nasdaq:   ... on obtaining FDA clearance and commercializing its rapid, protein ... pricing of an underwritten public offering of 10,000,000 shares ... 3,500,000 shares of its common stock at an exercise ... offering price of $1.25 per share and related warrant.  ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 2013 PuraMed BioScience ® , Inc., ... over-the-counter (OTC) medicinal and healthcare products, announced that ... company based on low market capitalization valuation. ... Natural Product to Treat Migraine Headaches , ... Competitor , Currently Available Nationwide at Walgreen,s ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Steps for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs without Using Chemicals and Avoiding Them While Traveling Enumerated by My Cleaning Products in Its Latest Post 2Steps for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs without Using Chemicals and Avoiding Them While Traveling Enumerated by My Cleaning Products in Its Latest Post 3Mayor of Oklahoma-Tornado-Impaired Town Proposes Storm Shelter Bill, My Cleaning Products Offers Complimentary Molderizer and Safe Shield to Help Victim with Looming Mold 2Venaxis Announces Pricing of Offering of Common Stock and Warrants 2Venaxis Announces Pricing of Offering of Common Stock and Warrants 3PuraMed BioScience (PMBS) Issued Alert Based on Market Cap of $721,756 2PuraMed BioScience (PMBS) Issued Alert Based on Market Cap of $721,756 3
... Inc. (OTCBB: NRTI), announces the addition of Dr. David ...  Dr. Blecker, a graduate of Tufts University School of ... and is currently the Chief in Nephrology at AtlantiCare ... of Regional Nephrology Associates, a private practice located in ...
... May 1, 2012  SPYRU Inc., a privately held corporation, ... market of functional food & beverages. They,ve just announced ... – a revolutionary new line of high ... conscious adults and serious athletes alike, SPYru packs a ...
... American researchers have created a portable, miniature microscope in the hope ... probe, which is around 20 cm long and 1 cm wide ... cancer in real-time or as a surgical guidance tool; dentists could ... probe has been presented today, Friday 27 April, in IOP Publishing,s ...
Cached Biology Technology:Dr. David L. Blecker MD, MPH, F.A.C.P. Joins Inergetics' Advisory Board to Co-Develop and Market Products to Penetrate Nephrology Market 2Dr. David L. Blecker MD, MPH, F.A.C.P. Joins Inergetics' Advisory Board to Co-Develop and Market Products to Penetrate Nephrology Market 3SPYru™ unveils "The Uberwater" 2Handheld probe shows great promise for oral cancer detection 2
... optically clear polystyrene formulation , High antibody-binding ... , Plates are certified for performance ... , Eight-well strips fit snugly in ... in use even if turned upside down ...
...
... an aqueous solution that contains a purified ... in a saline solution, pH 6.5 ... methylisothiazolone and 0.02% bromonitrodioxane as a preservative. ... and stabilizer for biologically active components in ...
... StabilGuard Biomolecule Stabilizer is a bovine protein-free ... is an aqueous solution that contains non-toxic ... saline), pH 6.6 - 7.2, and does ... maintains the activity of antibodies and other ...
Biology Products: