1
|
Currea JP, Sondhi Y, Kawahara AY, Theobald J. Measuring compound eye optics with microscope and microCT images. Commun Biol 2023; 6:246. [PMID: 36882636 PMCID: PMC9992655 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04575-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
With a great variety of shapes and sizes, compound eye morphologies give insight into visual ecology, development, and evolution, and inspire novel engineering. In contrast to our own camera-type eyes, compound eyes reveal their resolution, sensitivity, and field of view externally, provided they have spherical curvature and orthogonal ommatidia. Non-spherical compound eyes with skewed ommatidia require measuring internal structures, such as with MicroCT (µCT). Thus far, there is no efficient tool to characterize compound eye optics, from either 2D or 3D data, automatically. Here we present two open-source programs: (1) the ommatidia detecting algorithm (ODA), which measures ommatidia count and diameter in 2D images, and (2) a µCT pipeline (ODA-3D), which calculates anatomical acuity, sensitivity, and field of view across the eye by applying the ODA to 3D data. We validate these algorithms on images, images of replicas, and µCT eye scans from ants, fruit flies, moths, and a bee.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Paul Currea
- Integrative Biology and Physiology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Yash Sondhi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Akito Y Kawahara
- McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Jamie Theobald
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Freelance CB, Tierney SM, Rodriguez J, Stuart-Fox DM, Wong BBM, Elgar MA. The eyes have it: dim-light activity is associated with the morphology of eyes but not antennae across insect orders. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The perception of cues and signals in visual, olfactory and auditory modalities underpins all animal interactions and provides crucial fitness-related information. Sensory organ morphology is under strong selection to optimize detection of salient cues and signals in a given signalling environment, the most well-studied example being selection on eye design in different photic environments. Many dim-light active species have larger compound eyes relative to body size, but little is known about differences in non-visual sensory organ morphology between diurnal and dim-light active insects. Here, we compare the micromorphology of the compound eyes (visual receptors) and antennae (olfactory and mechanical receptors) in representative pairs of day active and dim-light active species spanning multiple taxonomic orders of insects. We find that dim-light activity is associated with larger compound eye ommatidia and larger overall eye surface area across taxonomic orders but find no evidence that morphological adaptations that enhance the sensitivity of the eye in dim-light active insects are accompanied by morphological traits of the antennae that may increase sensitivity to olfactory, chemical or physical stimuli. This suggests that the ecology and natural history of species is a stronger driver of sensory organ morphology than is selection for complementary investment between sensory modalities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon M Tierney
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Juanita Rodriguez
- Australian National Insect Collection, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Devi M Stuart-Fox
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bob B M Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mark A Elgar
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Schramm BW, Labecka AM, Gudowska A, Antoł A, Sikorska A, Szabla N, Bauchinger U, Kozlowski J, Czarnoleski M. Concerted evolution of body mass, cell size and metabolic rate among carabid beetles. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 132:104272. [PMID: 34186071 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2021.104272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Alterations in cell number and size are apparently associated with the body mass differences between species and sexes, but we rarely know which of the two mechanisms underlies the observed variance in body mass. We used phylogenetically informed comparisons of males and females of 19 Carabidae beetle species to compare body mass, resting metabolic rate, and cell size in the ommatidia and Malpighian tubules. We found that the larger species or larger sex (males or females, depending on the species) consistently possessed larger cells in the two tissues, indicating organism-wide coordination of cell size changes in different tissues and the contribution of these changes to the origin of evolutionary and sex differences in body mass. The species or sex with larger cells also exhibited lower mass-specific metabolic rates, and the interspecific mass scaling of metabolism was negatively allometric, indicating that large beetles with larger cells spent relatively less energy on maintenance than small beetles. These outcomes also support existing hypotheses about the fitness consequences of cell size changes, postulating that the low surface-to-volume ratio of large cells helps decrease the energetic demand of maintaining ionic gradients across cell membranes. Analyses with and without phylogenetic information yielded similar results, indicating that the observed patterns were not biased by shared ancestry. Overall, we suggest that natural selection does not operate on each trait independently and that the linkages between concerted cell size changes in different tissues, body mass and metabolic rate should thus be viewed as outcomes of correlational selection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz W Schramm
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, Kraków 30-387, Poland; Sable Systems Europe GmbH, Ostendstraße 25, 12459 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Maria Labecka
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, Kraków 30-387, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Gudowska
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, Kraków 30-387, Poland
| | - Andrzej Antoł
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, Kraków 30-387, Poland; Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Sikorska
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, Kraków 30-387, Poland
| | - Natalia Szabla
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, Kraków 30-387, Poland
| | - Ulf Bauchinger
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, Kraków 30-387, Poland; Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pasteura 3, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan Kozlowski
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, Kraków 30-387, Poland
| | - Marcin Czarnoleski
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, Kraków 30-387, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cook DF, Voss SC, Finch JTD, Rader RC, Cook JM, Spurr CJ. The Role of Flies as Pollinators of Horticultural Crops: An Australian Case Study with Worldwide Relevance. INSECTS 2020; 11:E341. [PMID: 32498457 PMCID: PMC7349676 DOI: 10.3390/insects11060341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Australian horticulture relies heavily on the introduced managed honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus 1758 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), to pollinate crops. Given the risks associated with reliance upon a single species, it would be prudent to identify other taxa that could be managed to provide crop pollination services. We reviewed the literature relating to the distribution, efficiency and management potential of a number of flies (Diptera) known to visit pollinator-dependent crops in Australia and worldwide. Applying this information, we identified the taxa most suitable to play a greater role as managed pollinators in Australian crops. Of the taxa reviewed, flower visitation by representatives from the dipteran families Calliphoridae, Rhiniidae and Syrphidae was frequently reported in the literature. While data available are limited, there was clear evidence of pollination by these flies in a range of crops. A review of fly morphology, foraging behaviour and physiology revealed considerable potential for their development as managed pollinators, either alone or to augment honey bee services. Considering existing pollination evidence, along with the distribution, morphology, behaviour and life history traits of introduced and endemic species, 11 calliphorid, two rhiniid and seven syrphid species were identified as candidates with high potential for use in Australian managed pollination services. Research directions for the comprehensive assessment of the pollination abilities of the identified taxa to facilitate their development as a pollination service are described. This triage approach to identifying species with high potential to become significant managed pollinators at local or regional levels is clearly widely applicable to other countries and taxa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David F Cook
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia
| | - Sasha C Voss
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia;
| | - Jonathan T D Finch
- Plants Animals and Interactions, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia; (J.T.D.F.); (J.M.C.)
| | - Romina C Rader
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Madgewick Drive, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia;
| | - James M Cook
- Plants Animals and Interactions, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia; (J.T.D.F.); (J.M.C.)
| | - Cameron J Spurr
- SeedPurity Pty Ltd., 2 Derwent Avenue, Margate, Tasmania 7054, Australia;
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Smith JL, Palermo NA, Theobald JC, Wells JD. The forensically important blow fly, Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae), is more likely to walk than fly to carrion at low light levels. Forensic Sci Int 2016; 266:245-249. [PMID: 27343754 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Revised: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
One factor that influences estimates of time since death using entomological evidence is whether or not blow flies nocturnally oviposit. Field studies focusing on egg laying have found it occurs on an inconsistent basis. A key but poorly understood factor in nocturnal oviposition is a blow fly's ability to locate carrion under low light levels. It has been speculated that blow flies are more likely to walk than fly to carrion during the night, but this has not been empirically tested. We directly compared guided walking versus flying using infrared sensors under low light levels in laboratory conditions for Chrysomya megacephala (F.) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), a blow fly previously described to be nocturnal. We found C. megacephala is more likely to walk than fly toward carrion under low light levels (p=0.016). We did not, however, find differences between males and females for walking (p=0.48) or flying (p=0.42) despite male C. megacephala possessing eyes better suited for increased light capture. These results demonstrate the need to better understand where blow flies go at night, as bodies found within a fly's walking distance are more likely to be colonized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua L Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199, United States.
| | - Nicholas A Palermo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199, United States
| | - Jamie C Theobald
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199, United States
| | - Jeffrey D Wells
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199, United States
| |
Collapse
|