Polarized Light in Animal Vision : Polarization Patterns in Nature PDF

The subject of this volume is two-fold. First, it gathers typical polarization patterns occurring in nature.

Second, it surveys the polarization-sensitive ani- mals, the physiological mechanisms and biological functions of polarization sensitivity as weIl as the polarization-guided behaviour in animals.

The monograph is prepared for biologists, physicists and meteorologists, espe- cially for experts of atmospheric optics and animal vision, who wish to under- stand and reveal the message hidden in polarization patterns of the optical environment not directly accessible to the human visual system, but measur- able by polarimetry and perceived by many animals.

Our volume is an attempt to build a bridge between these two physical and biological flelds.

In Part I we introduce the reader to the elements of imaging polarimetry.

This technique can be efflciently used, e. g. in atmospheric optics, remote sens- ing and biology.

In Part 11 we deal with typical polarization patterns of the natural optical environment.

Sunrise/sunset, clear skies, cloudy skies, moonshine and total solar eclipses all mean quite different illumination conditions, wh ich also affect the spatial distribution and strength of celestial polarization.

We pre- sent the polarization patterns of the sky and its unpolarized (neutral) points under sunlit, moonlit, clear, cloudy and eclipsed conditions as a function of solar elevation.

The polarization pattern of a rainbow is also shown.

That part of the spectrum is derived in which perception of skylight polarization is optimal under partly cloudy skies.