Presentation Details
| Dynamic focusing through retinal movements in Habronattus pyrrithrix jumping spiders Deniz Korman1, Olivia K.Harris1, 2, Jackson S.Michaels3, 4, Samuel J.Clark5, Kamel Fezza5, Elke K.Buschbeck1, Emma Alexander3, Nathan I.Morehouse1. 1University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.2University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA.3Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.4University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.5Advanced Photon Source at the Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA |
Abstract
Proper focusing of visual systems is critical for maximizing spatial information and depth perception. Focusing can provide depth information through a variety of mechanisms across organisms, including the depth-from-defocus (DFD) mechanism proposed to be used by jumping spiders. We explore how retinal movements of Habronattus pyrrithrix jumping spiders may affect the focusing properties and DFD of their principal eyes due to dynamic changes to visual morphology and optics. Using x-ray synchrotron imaging of retinal movements in live animals, we find that the principal eyes maintain a constant axial length during retinal swings. However, the corneal lenses exhibit increased optical power at increasingly oblique viewing angles. The result is that the principal eyes are focused near-infinity while looking ahead and gradually focus closer when they look downwards. This form of dynamic focusing might explain how jumping spiders make full use of their exceptional spatial acuity when viewing targets at close distances. Modeling suggests that this focusing capability is also likely to improve the performance of their DFD-based depth estimations for objects viewed below the horizon.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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