Cryptic impact: Visual detection of corona light and avoidance of power lines by reindeer
ABSTRACT Assessing the impact of human development on animals is complicated by the fact that overt effects may have covert causes. Cryptic impacts (sensu Raiter et al. 2014) can arise where sensory stimuli to which species respond fall outside the human sensory range. Ultraviolet (UV) light, which...
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Wiley
2016-03-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.620 |
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| author | Nicholas J. C. Tyler Karl‐Arne Stokkan Christopher R. Hogg Christian Nellemann Arnt Inge Vistnes |
| author_facet | Nicholas J. C. Tyler Karl‐Arne Stokkan Christopher R. Hogg Christian Nellemann Arnt Inge Vistnes |
| author_sort | Nicholas J. C. Tyler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Assessing the impact of human development on animals is complicated by the fact that overt effects may have covert causes. Cryptic impacts (sensu Raiter et al. 2014) can arise where sensory stimuli to which species respond fall outside the human sensory range. Ultraviolet (UV) light, which is detected by a range of nonprimate mammals, is a potential example. We review evidence that dark‐adapted eyes of reindeer–caribou Rangifer tarandus can detect light at 330–410 nm emitted by electrical corona on high‐voltage power lines, which is necessarily barely visible to humans. Based on this, we suggest that the superior ability of Rangifer to detect corona UV light may partly account for the tendency of the animals to avoid power lines. Rangifer has UV‐permissive ocular media that transmit approximately 15 times more corona light than human eyes. Retinal irradiance under full dilation is in the order of 7 times greater in Rangifer compared with humans. Seasonal transformation of the tapetum lucidum substantially increases retinal sensitivity in this species in winter. Threshold distances of detection of corona by Rangifer are in the order of hundreds of meters. Displays of corona may catch the animals' attention, and plume coronas, in particular, may induce the illusion of motion (the phi phenomenon), thereby falsely signaling the presence of potential predators. Both features are likely to increase wariness and cause animals to withdraw from the source of the stimulus. We suggest that spatial and temporal variability of corona contributes to substantial variation observed in the strength and persistence of avoidance responses in Rangifer at these structures. © 2016 The Authors. Wildlife Society Bulletin published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7a1f0055d6f048038dcf7ac991a07e2d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-7a1f0055d6f048038dcf7ac991a07e2d2024-12-16T13:45:45ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402016-03-01401505810.1002/wsb.620Cryptic impact: Visual detection of corona light and avoidance of power lines by reindeerNicholas J. C. Tyler0Karl‐Arne Stokkan1Christopher R. Hogg2Christian Nellemann3Arnt Inge Vistnes4Centre for Saami StudiesUiT The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøN‐9037NorwayDepartment of Arctic and Marine BiologyUiT The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøN‐9037NorwayMoorfields Eye HospitalLondonEC1V 2PDUnited KingdomUNEP GRID ArendalLillehammerN‐2615NorwayDepartment of PhysicsUniversity of OsloOsloN‐0316NorwayABSTRACT Assessing the impact of human development on animals is complicated by the fact that overt effects may have covert causes. Cryptic impacts (sensu Raiter et al. 2014) can arise where sensory stimuli to which species respond fall outside the human sensory range. Ultraviolet (UV) light, which is detected by a range of nonprimate mammals, is a potential example. We review evidence that dark‐adapted eyes of reindeer–caribou Rangifer tarandus can detect light at 330–410 nm emitted by electrical corona on high‐voltage power lines, which is necessarily barely visible to humans. Based on this, we suggest that the superior ability of Rangifer to detect corona UV light may partly account for the tendency of the animals to avoid power lines. Rangifer has UV‐permissive ocular media that transmit approximately 15 times more corona light than human eyes. Retinal irradiance under full dilation is in the order of 7 times greater in Rangifer compared with humans. Seasonal transformation of the tapetum lucidum substantially increases retinal sensitivity in this species in winter. Threshold distances of detection of corona by Rangifer are in the order of hundreds of meters. Displays of corona may catch the animals' attention, and plume coronas, in particular, may induce the illusion of motion (the phi phenomenon), thereby falsely signaling the presence of potential predators. Both features are likely to increase wariness and cause animals to withdraw from the source of the stimulus. We suggest that spatial and temporal variability of corona contributes to substantial variation observed in the strength and persistence of avoidance responses in Rangifer at these structures. © 2016 The Authors. Wildlife Society Bulletin published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.620Arcticbarrier effectsenvironmental impactRangifer tarandustapetum lucidumultraviolet light |
| spellingShingle | Nicholas J. C. Tyler Karl‐Arne Stokkan Christopher R. Hogg Christian Nellemann Arnt Inge Vistnes Cryptic impact: Visual detection of corona light and avoidance of power lines by reindeer Wildlife Society Bulletin Arctic barrier effects environmental impact Rangifer tarandus tapetum lucidum ultraviolet light |
| title | Cryptic impact: Visual detection of corona light and avoidance of power lines by reindeer |
| title_full | Cryptic impact: Visual detection of corona light and avoidance of power lines by reindeer |
| title_fullStr | Cryptic impact: Visual detection of corona light and avoidance of power lines by reindeer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cryptic impact: Visual detection of corona light and avoidance of power lines by reindeer |
| title_short | Cryptic impact: Visual detection of corona light and avoidance of power lines by reindeer |
| title_sort | cryptic impact visual detection of corona light and avoidance of power lines by reindeer |
| topic | Arctic barrier effects environmental impact Rangifer tarandus tapetum lucidum ultraviolet light |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.620 |
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