Pupil adjustments in the eye of the common backswimmer

Abstract

The pupil mechanism in the acone apposition eye of the semi-aquatic common backswimmer Notonecta glauca (Hemiptera) was investigated with infrared reflectometry of the pseudopupil. This method allows non-invasive continuous measurements of pupil responses in the living animal. The dynamic range of the pupil sensitivity is about 7 log units during daytime and 6 log units at night. During the day, the sensitivity range of the pupil covers the normal daylight intensities in the animal's habitat, just under the water surface (I50=10(19.2) photons m-2 sr-1 s-1). At night, the sensitivity is 1 log unit lower (I50=10(20.2) photons m-2 sr-1 s-1), ensuring that the pupil is maximally open when light intensities are low. During daytime, light adaptation is completed in slightly less than 40 min, and dark adaptation takes approximately 50 min. The pupil response is only slightly slower at night. The speed of the response as well as the pupil sensitivity are dependent on the preceding adaptation history. An endogenous circadian rhythm determines the control range of the pupil aperture. However, the rhythm is easily disturbed, especially within a 3 h period before dusk and dawn. The results are compared with corresponding results from other insects with the same type of pupil mechanism.