RNA-Seq of black grouse retina [Lyrurus tetrix]

Understanding the visual systems of birds can inform conservation efforts and mitigate the impact of anthropogenic threats. This study investigates the visual abilities of the black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix), a European mountain bird highly vulnerable to collisions with man-made structures. We used RNA-Seq and de novo transcriptomics to identify the various opsins expressed in the retina of L. tetrix. Molecular analyses identified one rhodopsin and four cone opsins (SWS1, SWS2, Rh2, and LW) with spectral sensitivities spanning ultraviolet to long wavelengths (393–546 nm).