A systematic study of amphibian visual systems: from evolution of diel patterns to physiological limits for colour vision

• Grant number: 15/14857-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2017
• End date: February 29, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Taran Grant
• Grantee: Carola Anabel Mariana Yovanovich
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/10000-5 - A multi-disciplinary approach to the study of amphibian diversification, AP.JP

Abstract

Many amphibians rely on visually driven behaviours for performing tasks critical for survival and reproduction. However, their visual capabilities are largely unknown, due to the low cooperativeness of these animals for behavioural studies and the extremely limited knowledge about retinal composition across their phylogeny. Particularly intriguing is the existence of blue-sensitive rod photoreceptors in several species, which are not found in any other vertebrate. Three years ago the candidate started a project at Lund University in Sweden to study the colour vision capabilities of anurans in dim light and its potential ecological relevance. During that time, an experimental approach was developed that enabled her and her colleagues to elucidate the light intensity thresholds for colour vision in species of the genera Bufo and Rana. The next step in understanding the visual ecology of amphibians requires a systematic study that takes into account both the phylogenetic and ecological diversity of this large (7400 described species) and ecologically important clade. We propose to study eye morphology and optics in key species in order to elucidate which adaptations are present in the visual systems of diurnal and nocturnal anurans, and complement them with behavioural studies to determine the thresholds of chromatic and achromatic vision. The project will benefit from the applicants' experience in microscopy and behaviour, the supervisors' expertise in amphibian biology and phylogeny, and a collaborative network that is already established and funded, including a colour vision researcher based in Sweden and an amphibian systematist in Argentina. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DONNER, KRISTIAN; YOVANOVICH, CAROLA A. M.. A frog's eye view: Foundational revelations and future promises. SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, v. 106, n. SI, p. 72-85, OCT 2020. (15/14857-6)

YOVANOVICH, CAROLA A. M.; PIEROTTI, MICHELE E. R.; KELBER, ALMUT; JORGEWICH-COHEN, GABRIEL; IBANEZ, ROBERTO; GRANT, TARAN. Lens transmittance shapes ultraviolet sensitivity in the eyes of frogs from diverse ecological and phylogenetic backgrounds. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, v. 287, n. 1918, JAN 15 2020. (15/14857-6, 18/11502-0, 11/50146-6, 18/15425-0, 12/10000-5)

HAUZMAN, EINAT; PIEROTTI, MICHELE E. R.; BHATTACHARYYA, NIHAR; TASHIRO, JULIANA H.; YOVANOVICH, CAROLA A. M.; CAMPOS, POLLYANNA F.; VENTURA, DORA F.; CHANG, BELINDA S. W.. imultaneous Expression of UV and Violet SWS1 Opsins Expands the Visual Palette in a Group of Freshwater Snake. Molecular Biology and Evolution, v. 38, n. 12, p. 5225-5240, DEC 2021. (18/11502-0, 14/26818-2, 18/13910-9, 14/25743-9, 18/09321-8, 13/07467-1, 15/14857-6)

YOVANOVICH, CAROLA A. M.; PIEROTTI, MICHELE E. R.; RODRIGUES, MIGUEL TREFAUT; GRANT, TARAN. A dune with a view: the eyes of a neotropical fossorial lizard. Frontiers in Zoology, v. 16, JUN 10 2019. (15/14857-6, 18/11502-0, 11/50146-6, 12/10000-5)

YOVANOVICH, CAROLA A. M.; GRANT, TARAN; KELBER, ALMUT. Differences in ocular media transmittance in classical frog and toad model species and its impact on visual sensitivity. Journal of Experimental Biology, v. 222, n. 12, JUN 2019. (15/14857-6, 12/10000-5)

DONNER, KRISTIAN; YOVANOVICH, CAROLA A. M.. A frog's eye view: Foundational revelations and future promises. SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, v. 106, p. 14-pg., 2020-10-01. (15/14857-6)