Meeting Abstract

59.5  Thursday, Jan. 6  Morphological constraint and behavioral adaptation in the visual ecology of Megalagrion damselflies WALGUARNERY, J.W.*; BUTLER, M.A.; University of Hawaii, Manoa justinww@hawaii.edu

The theory of sensory drive states that sensory receptors, sensory signals and signaling behaviors are functionally linked, and will therefore adapt jointly to maintain effective transmission of visual information under the light environment of a given habitat. Two important aspects of this theory remain under-explored: the actual distribution of light variation within habitats and the ability of animals to improve their reception of visual information through selective positioning and orientation relative to light heterogeneity. In particular, inherent trade-offs between light sensitivity and spatial resolution in the apposition compound eyes possessed by the majority of terrestrial animals suggest that vision will often be compromised in variable habitats. Previously overlooked behavioral adjustments might compensate for physical limitations in order to maintain consistent performance of these sensory systems. Tests of this hypothesis with Megalagrion damselflies indicate that under typical perch orientations in breeding territories males direct high-acuity foveas at the front of the eyes to view brighter backgrounds against which not only the resolution but also the chromatic contrast of both male and female conspecifics are maximized. We use this ecologically diverse group of Hawaiian damselflies as a uniquely tractable model through which to investigate constraints in the insect compound eye visual sensory system, to identify alternative designs by which visual performance can be maximized, and to expand the predictive power of sensory drive by including receiver behavior in the network of interactions that results in the successful communication of visual signals.