Ultraviolet Radiation Absorbance by Coral Reef Fish Mucus: photo-protection and Visual Communication |
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Authors: | Jill P Zamzow George S Losey |
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Institution: | (1) Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, Department of Zoology, University of Hawai'i, P.O. Box 1346, Kaneohe, HI, 96744, U.S.A. |
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Abstract: | Tropical reef fishes are exposed to high levels of damaging ultraviolet radiation. Here we report the widespread distribution of both UVA- and UVB-absorbing compounds in the epithelial mucus of these fishes. Mucus from 137 reef fish species was examined by spectrophotometry and 90% were found to have strong absorbance peaks between 290 and 400 nm. Most fish species (78%) had more than one peak, that suggests a broad-band ultraviolet screening function for their mucus. Thalassoma duperrey, a tropical wrasse, was able to alter the absorbance of its epithelial mucus in response to both naturally and experimentally manipulated UV regimes. Visual modeling suggests that a fish with UV vision, such as Dascyllus albisella, could detect the changes in mucus spectra of T. duperrey that occurred in these experiments. |
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Keywords: | Thalassoma duperrey Dascyllus albisella wrasse UV vision epithelial mucus |
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