Bioluminescent backlighting illuminates the complex visual signals of a social squid in the deep sea.

ABSTRACT: Visual signals rapidly relay information, facilitating behaviors and ecological interactions that shape ecosystems. However, most known signaling systems can be restricted by low light levels-a pervasive condition in the deep ocean, the largest inhabitable space on the planet. Resident visually cued animals have therefore been hypothesized to have simple signals with limited information-carrying capacity. We used cameras mounted on remotely operated vehicles to study the behavior of the Humboldt squid, Dosidicus gigas, in its natural deep-sea habitat. We show that specific pigmentation patterns from its diverse repertoire are selectively displayed during foraging and in social scenarios, and we investigate how these behaviors may be used syntactically for communication. We additionally ide

SUBMITTER: Burford BP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7165453 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature