Overview

While the human eye can practically cope only with two aspects of light, brightness and colour, many animals use polarization as a further source of visual information. The text starts with an introduction into imaging polarimetry, an efficient technique for measuring light polarization, and moves onto a description of the various polarization patterns occurring in nature, such as celestial polarization.The major part of the book is dedicated to the fascinating question: How do animals use polarization patterns? Following a compendium of the physiology of polarization sensitivity, several case studies are presented, such as honeybees or ants using polarized light as a compass or aquatic animals orientating by the underwater polarization. Further, it is explained how man-made objects affecting the natural optical environment may disorientate animals. For instance, as in the case where oil or glass surfaces can be more attractive for water-seeking polarotactic insects than the water surface.

Full Product Details

Author:   Gábor Horváth ,  Dezsö Varju
Publisher:   Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG
Imprint:   Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. K
Edition:   Softcover reprint of hardcover 1st ed. 2004
Weight:   0.718kg
ISBN:  

9783642073342

ISBN 10:   3642073344
Pages:   447
Publication Date:   30 November 2010
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Replaced By:   9783642547171
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Out of stock  
The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available.

Table of Contents

I: Imaging Polarimetry.- 1 Polarimetry: From Point-Source to Imaging Polarimeters.- II: Polarization Patterns in Nature.- 2 Space-Borne Measurement of Earthlight Polarization.- 3 Skylight Polarization.- 4 Principal Neutral Points of Atmospheric Polarization.- 5 24-Hour Change of the Polarization Pattern of the Summer Sky North of the Arctic Circle.- 6 Polarization Patterns of Cloudy Skies and Animal Orientation.- 7 Ground-Based Full-Sky Imaging Polarimetric Cloud Detection.- 8 Polarization Pattern of the Moonlit Clear Night Sky at Full Moon: Comparison of Moonlit and Sunlit Skies.- 9 Imaging Polarimetry of the Rainbow.- 10 Which Part of the Spectrum is Optimal for Perception of Skylight Polarization?.- 11 Polarization of the Sky and the Solar Corona During Total Solar Eclipses.- 12 Reflection-Polarization Pattern of the Flat Water Surface Measured by 180° Field-of-View Imaging Polarimetry.- 13 Polarization Pattern of a Fata Morgana: Why Aquatic Insects are not Attracted by Mirages?.- 14 Polarizational Characteristics of the Underwater World.- 15 Circularly Polarized Light in Nature.- III: Polarized Light in Animal Vision.- 16 From Polarization Sensitivity to Polarization Vision.- 17 Polarization Sensitivity in Terrestrial Insects.- 18 Polarization Sensitivity in Insects Associated with Water.- 19 Multiple-Choice Experiments on Dragonfly Polarotaxis.- 20 How can Dragonflies Discern Bright and Dark Waters from a Distance? The Degree of Linear Polarization of Reflected Light as a Possible Cue for Dragonfly Habitat Selection.- 21 Oil Reservoirs and Plastic Sheets as Polarizing Insect Traps.- 22 Why do Mayflies Lay Eggs on Dry Asphalt Roads? Water-Imitating Horizontally Polarized Light Reflected from Asphalt Attracts Ephemeroptera.- 23 Reflection-PolarizationalCharacteristics of Car-Bodies: Why are Water-Seeking Insects Attracted to the Bodywork of Cars?.- 24 Polarization Sensitivity in Spiders and Scorpions.- 25 Polarization Sensitivity in Crustaceans.- 26 Polarization Sensitivity in Cephalopods and Marine Snails.- 27 Polarization-Sensitive Optomotor Reaction in Invertebrates.- 28 Polarization Sensitivity in Fish.- 29 Polarization Sensitivity in Amphibians.- 30 Polarization Sensitivity in Reptiles.- 31 Polarization Sensitivity in Birds.- 32 Human Polarization Sensitivity.- 33 Polarization-Induced False Colours.- 34 A Common Methodological Error: Intensity Patterns Induced by Selective Reflection of Linearly Polarized Light from Black Surfaces.- Rerences.- Colour Illustrations.

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