Summary
In the worker ant,Atta sexdens, the ERG is cornea negative, shows two phasic and one tonic component and never presents an initial positive deflection. Dark adaptation was found to be complete within 10 min even with the longest pre-adapting duration used. Circadian variations were observed on continuous records, showing a tenfold sensitivity increase of the ERG during the night. Effects of light adaptation were also studied. The ERG amplitude can increase after light exposure. The possible role that pigment migration might play in the described sensitivity changes is discussed.
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This work was made possible by a grant from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. (Contract 71/1141)
The authors appreciate Dr. Héctor Maldonado's helpful comments on the manuscript and are also indebted to Dr. Walter Hugo de Andrade Cunha for provision of animals for this study from his ant colonies.
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Ventura, D.F., Martinoya, C., Bloch, S. et al. Visual sensitivity and the state of adaptation in the antAtta sexdens (Hymenoptera: Formicoidea). J. Comp. Physiol. 110, 333–342 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00659149
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00659149