海洋动物用新型秘密光线交流

Researchers from the Queensland Brain Institute at The University of Queensland have uncovered a new form of secret light communication used by marine ¹ animals. The findings may have applications in satellite remote sensing, biomedical imaging, cancer detection, and computer data storage., ,Dr Yakir Gagnon, Professor Justin Marshall and colleagues previously ² showed that mantis ³ shrimp ⁴ (Gonodactylaceus falcatus) can reflect and detect circular polarising light, an ability extremely rare in nature. Until now, no-one has known what they use it for. , ,The new study shows the shrimp use circular polarisation as a means to covertly ⁵ advertise their presence to aggressive competitors. , ,"In birds, colour is what we're familiar with; in the ocean, reef fish display with colour. This is a form of communication we understand. What we're now discovering is there's a completely new language of communication," said Professor Marshall., ,Linear polarised light is seen only in one plane, whereas circular polarised light travels in a spiral - clockwise or anti-clockwise - direction. , ,The team determined ⁶ that mantis shrimp display circular polarised patterns on the body, particularly on the legs, head and heavily armoured tail; these are the regions most visible when when they curl up during conflict., ,"These shrimp live in holes in the reef," said Professor Marshall. "They like to hide away; they're secretive and don't like to be in the open.", ,Researchers dropped a mantis shrimp into a tank with two burrows ⁸ to hide in: one reflecting unpolarised light and the other, circular polarised light. The shrimp chose the unpolarised burrow ⁷ 68% of the time - suggesting the circular polarised burrow was perceived as being occupied by another mantis shrimp., ,"If you essentially ⁹ label holes with circular polarising light, by shining circular polarising light out of them, shrimps ¹⁰ won't go near it," said Professor Marshall. "They know - or they think they know - there's another shrimp there.