UV wavelengths experienced during development affect larval newt visual sensitivity and predation efficiency

We experimentally investigated the influence of developmental plasticity of ultraviolet (UV) visual sensitivity on predation efficiency of the larval smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris. We quantified expression of SWS1 opsin gene (UV-sensitive protein of photoreceptor cells) in the retinas of individuals who had developed in the presence (UV+) or absence (UV−) of UV light (developmental treatments), and tested their predation efficiency under UV+ and UV− light (testing treatments). We found that both SWS1 opsin expression and predation efficiency were significantly reduced in the UV− developmental group. Larvae in the UV− testing environment displayed consistently lower predation efficiency regardless of their developmental treatment. These results prove for the first time, we believe, functional UV vision and developmental plasticity of UV sensitivity in an amphibian at the larval stage. They also demonstrate that UV wavelengths enhance predation efficiency and suggest that the magnitud...本研究通过实验探究了紫外（UV）视觉敏感性的发育可塑性对光滑新螈（Lissotriton vulgaris）幼体捕食效率的影响。我们对在紫外光存在（UV+）或缺失（UV−）环境下发育的个体（即发育处理组）视网膜中SWS1视蛋白基因（感光细胞的紫外敏感蛋白）的表达量进行了定量，并在UV+与UV−光照环境下（即测试处理组）检测了其捕食效率。研究发现，UV−发育组的SWS1视蛋白表达量与捕食效率均显著降低。处于UV−测试环境中的幼体，无论其发育处理组归属如何，捕食效率均持续偏低。我们认为，本研究结果首次证实了两栖动物幼体阶段具备功能性UV视觉，以及UV敏感性的发育可塑性。本研究同时证实了UV波长可提升捕食效率，并提示其影响幅度……