Abstract
From stomatopods to spiders, and from fish to moths, the Ecology of Vision explores how animals see and use visual information. Bristol has played a leading role in this field for almost 50 years, beginning with John Lythgoe’s seminal book The Ecology of Vision, and continuing through the discoveries of Innes Cuthill and Julian Partridge on how ultraviolet light influences bird behaviour. More recently, we have shown a number of new ways in how animals use the polarization of light as a form of visual information, an ability normally hidden from human vision.
In this talk, I will highlight some recent discoveries that continue this Bristol tradition. Over the last few years, we have discovered how marine animals have evolved novel ways to control the flow of light to create near-perfect open-water camouflage. I will also show how information theory can provide intuitive insight into the form and function of visual systems, particularly for multi-task-based behaviours. Finally, I will showcase how new methods and human population models are helping us understand the global effects of light pollution at scales beyond individual behaviour.
Biography
Nick Roberts is a Professor of Sensory Ecology at the University of Bristol and is currently the Head of the School of Biological Sciences. His research spans many aspects of the Ecology of Vision, including visual physiology, biological optics and understanding the impacts of light pollution. He is particularly interested in how animals exploit optical physics for visually guided behaviours.