Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Built-in polarizers form part of a compass organ in spiders

Nature volume 401, pages 470–473 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

Some insects and vertebrates use the pattern of polarized light in the sky as an optical compass1,2,3,4,5. Only a small section of clear sky needs to be visible for bees and ants to obtain a compass bearing for accurate navigation5,6. The receptors involved in the polarization compass are confined to a small part of the retina, and the eyes are built predominantly for other visual tasks7. Here we report the discovery of a unique compass organ in the spider Drassodes cupreus, where a pair of specialized secondary eyes cooperate to analyse skylight polarization. These eyes do not form images, but use a built-in polarization filter to determine precisely the direction of polarization. Measurements using a model eye indicate that the compass organ is best suited for navigation at dusk and dawn. Behavioural experiments show that the spiders are primarily active after sunset and that they use polarization cues to find their way back to the nest after foraging trips. A similar organization of the secondary eyes in several spider families indicates that such compass organs may not be an isolated phenomenon.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: The compass organ of D. cupreus.
Figure 2: Structure of the PM eyes.
Figure 3: Sky-polarization analysis at dusk and dawn.
Figure 4: Layout of the arena used for navigation experiments.

References

  1. Freake,M. J. Evidence for orientation using the e-vector direction of polarized light in the sleepy lizard Tiliqua rugosa. J. Exp. Biol. 202, 1159–1166 (1999).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Waterman,T. H. in Handbook of Sensory Physiology Vol. VII/6B (ed. Autrum, H.) 281–469 (Springer, Berlin, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hawryshyn,C. W. Polarization vision in fish. Am. Sci. 80, 164–175 (1992).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Able,K. P. Skylight polarization patterns and the orientation of migratory birds. J. Exp. Biol. 141, 241–256 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  5. von Frisch,K. Die Polarisation des Himmels licht als orien terender Faktor bei den Tanzen der Bienen. Experientia 5, 142–148 (1949).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Fent,K. Polarized skylight orientation in the desert ant Cataglyphis. J. Comp. Physiol. A 158, 145–150 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Wehner,R. in Fortschritte der Zoologie vol. 39 (eds Schilderberg, K. & Elsner, N.) 103–143 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Goldsmith,T. H. & Wehner,R. Restrictions of rotational and translational diffusion of pigment in the membranes of a rhabdomeric photoreceptor. J. Gen. Physiol. 70, 453–490 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Snyder,A. W. Polarization sensitivity of individual retinula cells. J. Comp. Physiol. 83, 331–360 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Kirschfeld,K. Vision of polarized light. Int. Biophys. Congr. 4, 289–296 (Moscow, 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Labhart,T. Polarization-opponent interneurons in the insect visual system. Nature 331, 435–437 (1988).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Wehner,R. in Orientation and Communication in Arthropods (ed. Lehrer, M.) 145–185 (Birkhäuser, Basel, 1997).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  13. Görner,P. Die Orientierung der Trichterspinne nach polarisiertem Licht. Z. Verg. Physiol. 45, 307–314 (1962).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Magni,F., Papi,F., Savely,H. E. & Tongiorgi,P. Research on the structure and physiology of the eyes of a lycosid spider. II. The role of different pairs of eyes in astronomical orientation. Arch. Ital. Biol. 102, 123–136 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Homann,H. Die Nebenaugen der Araneen. Zoo. Jahrb. Anat. 71, 56–144 (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Land,M. F. in Neurobiology of Arachnids (ed. Barth, F. G.) 53–78 (Springer, Berlin, 1985).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  17. Bernard,G. D. & Wehner,R. Functional similarities between polarization vision and color vision. Vision Res. 17, 1019–1028 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Labhart,T. The electrophysiology of photoreceptors in different eye regions of the desert ant, Cataglyphis bicolor. J. Comp. Physiol. A 158, 1–7 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Labhart,T. Specialized photoreceptors at the dorsal rim of the honeybee's compound eye: polarizational and angular sensitivity. J. Comp. Physiol. 141, 19–30 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Brines,M. L. & Gould,J. L. Skylight polarization patterns and animal orientation. J. Exp. Biol. 96, 69–91 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Blest,A. D. in Neurobiology of Arachnids (ed. Barth, F. G.) 79–102 (Springer, Berlin, 1985).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  22. Nilsson,D.-E. Three unexpected cases of refracting superposition eyes in crustaceans. J. Comp. Physiol. A 167, 71–78 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Nilsson,D.-E. & Howard,J. Intensity and polarization of the eyeshine in butterflies. J. Comp. Physiol. A 166, 51–56 (1989).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank P. Willander and L. Jonsson for help in finding and identifying the spiders. Information about Gnaphosoids was provided by N. Platnick. R. Wallén provided technical assistance. Financial support came from the Swedish Natural Science Research Council.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Lund, Helgonavägen 3, Lund, S-223 62, Sweden

    M. Dacke, D.-E. Nilsson & E. J. Warrant

  2. Vision Group, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, GPO Box 475, Canberra, A.C.T. 2601, Australia

    A. D. Blest

  3. Department of Zoology, University of Canterbury, PB 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand

    A. D. Blest

  4. School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK

    M. F. Land

  5. Department of Zoology, Box 351800, University of Washington, Seattle, 89195, Washington, USA

    D. C. O'Carroll

Authors
  1. M. Dacke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D.-E. Nilsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. J. Warrant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. D. Blest
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. F. Land
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. D. C. O'Carroll
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to M. Dacke or D.-E. Nilsson.

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dacke, M., Nilsson, DE., Warrant, E. et al. Built-in polarizers form part of a compass organ in spiders. Nature 401, 470–473 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/46773

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/46773

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing