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

We experimentally investigated the influence of developmental plasticity of UV visual sensitivity on predation efficiency of the larval smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris. We quantified expression of SWS1 opsin genes (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 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 magnitude of the behavioural response depends on retinal properties induced by the developmental lighting environment.

本研究通过实验探究了紫外线（UV）视觉敏感性的发育可塑性对幼体光滑滑螈（Lissotriton vulgaris）捕食效率的影响。我们定量检测了在UV光照存在（UV+）或缺失（UV-）环境中发育的个体视网膜内SWS1视蛋白基因（SWS1 opsin genes，即光感受器细胞的紫外线敏感蛋白）的表达水平，并分别在UV+与UV-光照环境下检测其捕食效率（测试处理组）。研究发现，UV-发育处理组的SWS1视蛋白表达量与捕食效率均显著降低。无论个体经历何种发育处理，在UV-测试环境中的幼体捕食效率均持续偏低。本研究首次在两栖动物幼体阶段证实了功能性UV视觉以及UV敏感性的发育可塑性。同时研究证实紫外线波段可提升捕食效率，并表明行为响应的强度取决于发育光照环境所诱导的视网膜特性。