Open-ocean fish reveal an omnidirectional solution to camouflage in polarized environments

doi:10.1126/science.aad5284

. 2015 Nov 20;350(6263):965-9.

doi: 10.1126/science.aad5284. Epub 2015 Nov 19.

Open-ocean fish reveal an omnidirectional solution to camouflage in polarized environments

Parrish C Brady¹, Alexander A Gilerson², George W Kattawar³, James M Sullivan⁴, Michael S Twardowski⁴, Heidi M Dierssen⁵, Meng Gao³, Kort Travis¹, Robert Ian Etheredge¹, Alberto Tonizzo², Amir Ibrahim², Carlos Carrizo², Yalong Gu², Brandon J Russell⁵, Kathryn Mislinski¹, Shulei Zhao¹, Molly E Cummings¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
² Optical Remote Sensing Laboratory, the City College of New York-CUNY, New York, NY 10031, USA.
³ Department of Physics and Astronomy and Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4242, USA.
⁴ Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Ft. Pierce, FL 34946, USA.
⁵ Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut Avery Point, 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton, CT 06340-6048, USA.

PMID: 26586762
DOI: 10.1126/science.aad5284

Open-ocean fish reveal an omnidirectional solution to camouflage in polarized environments

Parrish C Brady et al. Science. 2015.

. 2015 Nov 20;350(6263):965-9.

doi: 10.1126/science.aad5284. Epub 2015 Nov 19.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
² Optical Remote Sensing Laboratory, the City College of New York-CUNY, New York, NY 10031, USA.
³ Department of Physics and Astronomy and Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4242, USA.
⁴ Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Ft. Pierce, FL 34946, USA.
⁵ Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut Avery Point, 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton, CT 06340-6048, USA.

PMID: 26586762
DOI: 10.1126/science.aad5284

Abstract

Despite appearing featureless to our eyes, the open ocean is a highly variable environment for polarization-sensitive viewers. Dynamic visual backgrounds coupled with predator encounters from all possible directions make this habitat one of the most challenging for camouflage. We tested open-ocean crypsis in nature by collecting more than 1500 videopolarimetry measurements from live fish from distinct habitats under a variety of viewing conditions. Open-ocean fish species exhibited camouflage that was superior to that of both nearshore fish and mirrorlike surfaces, with significantly higher crypsis at angles associated with predator detection and pursuit. Histological measurements revealed that specific arrangements of reflective guanine platelets in the fish's skin produce angle-dependent polarization modifications for polarocrypsis in the open ocean, suggesting a mechanism for natural selection to shape reflectance properties in this complex environment.

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Comment on "Open-ocean fish reveal an omnidirectional solution to camouflage in polarized environments".
Cronin TW, Gagnon YL, Johnsen S, Marshall NJ, Roberts NW. Cronin TW, et al. Science. 2016 Aug 5;353(6299):552. doi: 10.1126/science.aaf4481. Science. 2016. PMID: 27493176
Response to Comment on "Open-ocean fish reveal an omnidirectional solution to camouflage in polarized environments".
Brady P, Gilerson A, Kattawar G, Sullivan J, Twardowski M, Dierssen H, Cummings M. Brady P, et al. Science. 2016 Aug 5;353(6299):552. doi: 10.1126/science.aaf5018. Science. 2016. PMID: 27493177

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Open-ocean fish reveal an omnidirectional solution to camouflage in polarized environments

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Open-ocean fish reveal an omnidirectional solution to camouflage in polarized environments

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