Evolution of Visual and Non-visual Pigments

About this book

Research on the evolution of visual and non-visual pigments is both exciting and timely. There is an explosion of interest in visual pigments across both invertebrates and vertebrates and the discovery of non-visual pigments involved in irradiance detection and photoentrainment as opposed to image formation is undergoing a revolution. How do these two pigments systems operate to provide both vision and circadian regulation in animals from different light environments? Non-visual pigments have now been discovered in non-photoreceptor cells in the retina, the pineal/parapineal complex, deep-brain receptors, the skin, the iris and even the liver. Evolution of Visual and Non-visual Pigments will capture the latest research across both invertebrates and vertebrates presented by the world's leaders. The chapters are complementary and integrated but will present data from molecular, electrophysiological, anatomical and even behavioural research.

Contents

1. The evolution of pineal and parapineal photopigments (Matsumasa Koyanagi)
2. The evolution and function of melanopsin (Wayne Davies)
3. The evolution of non-visual photopigments in the CNS of vertebrates (Mark Hankins)
4. The evolution of invertebrate photoreceptors and photopigments (Tom Cronin)
5. Visual adaptations in insect photopigments (Amanda Briscoe)
6. The evolution of photoreceptors and visual photopigments in vertebrates (David Hunt)
7. Diversity and functional properties of bistable photopigments (Akihisa Terakita)
8. Adaptations to dim light (Julian Partridge)
9. The role of visual photopigment evolution in speciation (Karen Carleton)

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