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Evidence for colour vision inDrosophila melanogaster through spontaneous phototactic choice behaviour

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Summary

  1. 1.

    In aY-tube apparatus, one arm illuminated by a white or monochromatic light of constant intensity, the other by monochromatic lights of various intensities (Fig. 1), the dependence of the spontaneous phototactic choice behaviour ofDrosophila melanogaster, ♀ ♀, on intensity and spectral composition of the stimulus lights and on the state of adaptation has been tested.

  2. 2

    The slopes of the reaction intensity curves (Figs. 2 and 4) show a significant dependence on the wavelength of the variable light and on the uv content of the constant light as soon as the experimental intensity is high enough to stimulate both receptor systems known in Diptera.

  3. 3.

    The action spectrum at the lowest test intensity (Fig. 3a) reflects the spectral sensitivity of the high sensitivity receptor system of the flies with a peak in the uv near 350 mm and a green peak at 501.5 ± 1,3 nm of the same height. With increasing test intensity (Fig. 3b and c) the green peak shifts to 478.9 ± 1.4 nm and the uv peak increases in relative height to 45 times the green peak height.

  4. 4.

    It can be shown by light adaptation, that the relative height of the uv peak is the result of a central nervous processing wheras the uv sensitivity of the central receptor system is low. The sensitivity maximum of the central system (light adapted state) is situated at 474.6 ± 1.2 nm.

  5. 5.

    The results allow the conclusion on colour vision inDrosophila.

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  1. Reinhard A. Schümperli

    Present address: Department of Biology, University of South Florida, 33620, Tampa, Florida, USA

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  1. Zoologisches Institut der Universität Zürich, Schweiz

    Reinhard A. Schümperli

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Shortened text of thesis performed under the leadership of Prof. Dr. R. Wehner, presented to the Philosophische Fakultät II of the University of Zürich.

Financially supported by grants Nos. 3.315.70 and 3.814.72 of the Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique awarded to Prof. Dr. R. Wehner.

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Schümperli, R.A. Evidence for colour vision inDrosophila melanogaster through spontaneous phototactic choice behaviour. J. Comp. Physiol. 86, 77–94 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694480

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