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Fluorescence as a means of colour signal enhancement.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Marshall, J; Johnsen, S
Published in: Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
July 2017

Fluorescence is a physico-chemical energy exchange where shorter-wavelength photons are absorbed by a molecule and are re-emitted as longer-wavelength photons. It has been suggested a means of communication in several taxa including flowers, pitcher plants, corals, algae, worms, squid, spiders, stomatopods, fish, reptiles, parrots and humans. The surface or object that the pigment molecule is part of appears to glow due to its setting rather than an actual production of light, and this may enhance both signals and, in some cases, camouflage. This review examines some known uses of fluorescence, mainly in the context of visual communication in animals, the challenge being to distinguish when fluorescence is a functional feature of biological coloration or when it is a by-product of a pigment or other molecule. In general, we conclude that most observations of fluorescence lack enough evidence to suggest they are used in visually driven behaviours.This article is part of the themed issue 'Animal coloration: production, perception, function and application'.

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Published In

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences

DOI

EISSN

1471-2970

ISSN

0962-8436

Publication Date

July 2017

Volume

372

Issue

1724

Start / End Page

20160335

Related Subject Headings

  • Vertebrates
  • Pigmentation
  • Invertebrates
  • Fluorescence
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Color
  • Animals
  • Animal Communication
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
 

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Marshall, J., & Johnsen, S. (2017). Fluorescence as a means of colour signal enhancement. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, 372(1724), 20160335. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2016.0335
Marshall, Justin, and Sonke Johnsen. “Fluorescence as a means of colour signal enhancement.Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 372, no. 1724 (July 2017): 20160335. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2016.0335.
Marshall J, Johnsen S. Fluorescence as a means of colour signal enhancement. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B, Biological sciences. 2017 Jul;372(1724):20160335.
Marshall, Justin, and Sonke Johnsen. “Fluorescence as a means of colour signal enhancement.Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, vol. 372, no. 1724, July 2017, p. 20160335. Epmc, doi:10.1098/rstb.2016.0335.
Marshall J, Johnsen S. Fluorescence as a means of colour signal enhancement. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B, Biological sciences. 2017 Jul;372(1724):20160335.
Journal cover image

Published In

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences

DOI

EISSN

1471-2970

ISSN

0962-8436

Publication Date

July 2017

Volume

372

Issue

1724

Start / End Page

20160335

Related Subject Headings

  • Vertebrates
  • Pigmentation
  • Invertebrates
  • Fluorescence
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Color
  • Animals
  • Animal Communication
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences