Polarization vision helps detect transparent prey

摘要: Transparency enables aquatic organisms to avoid detection by visual predators. But we have found that this camouflage can be broken using a mode evolved several predators, such as squid. Under partially linearly polarized lighting, squid detect zooplankton prey at distance 70% greater than those achieved under non-polarized illumination. The role of polarization sensitivity in predation is confirmed squid's preference for transparent, yet polarization-active, targets mimic their prey.