The eyes of deep-sea bioluminescent（生物性发光的） sharks have a higher rod density¹ when compared to non-bioluminescent sharks, according to a study published August 6, 2014 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Julien M. Claes, postdoctoral researcher from the FNRS at Université catholique de Louvain (Belgium), and colleagues. This adaptation is one of many these sharks use to produce and perceive bioluminescent light in order to communicate, find prey², and camouflage³（伪装，掩饰） themselves against predators⁴. The mesopelagic（海洋中层的） twilight⁵ zone, or about 200-1000 meters deep in the sea, is a vast, dim habitat, where, with increasing depth, sunlight is progressively replaced by point-like bioluminescent emissions⁶. To better understand strategies used by bioluminescent predators inhabiting this region that help optimize⁷ photon capture, the authors of this study analyzed⁸ the eye shape, structure, and retinal cell mapping in the visual systems of five deep-sea bioluminescent sharks, including four Lanternsharks (Etmopteridae) and one kitefin shark (Dalatiidae).

 

The researchers found that the sharks' eyes contained a translucent⁹ area present in the upper eye orbit of the lantern sharks, which might aid in adjusting counter-illumination, or in using bioluminescence to camouflage the fish. They also found several ocular specializations, such as a gap between the lens and iris¹⁰ that allows extra light to the retina, which was previously¹¹ unknown in sharks. Comparisons with previous data on non-bioluminescent sharks reveals that bioluminescent sharks possess higher rod densities¹² in their eyes, which might provide them with improved temporal resolution, particularly useful for bioluminescent communication during social interactions.

 

"Every bioluminescent signal needs to reach a target photoreceptor to be ecologically efficient. Here, we clearly found evidence that the visual system of bioluminescent sharks has co-evolved with their light-producing capability¹³, even though more work is needed to understand the full story," said Dr. Claes.

 

These results reveal an unexpected diversity of photon capture strategies and indicate that like other deep-sea animals, deep-sea sharks possess a number of adaptations to cope with the twilight zone.

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