The geological discovery of remarkable hot-water plumes, the hydrothermal vents, in the sea floor along oceanic ridges, has been accompanied by remarkable biological discoveries about the life forms surrounding those vents. In certain locations in the Atlantic, swarms of a new kind of shrimp have been found that lack normal eyes, and were presumed blind, but have a reflective patch which may be a novel kind of eye. These shrimp seem to be the most active large invertebrates known to live on the deep seafloor, and live where the only illumination may be the dim far-red to infra-red from the extremely hot (350 deg C) water jets from the vents. This study, part of a U.S./French collaboration using deep-sea submersibles, will see whether the eyelike patch may be a specially evolved visual organ that allows them to stay near to the vents where they feed, but avoid the lethal temperature of the vent itself, in an environment far too dim for normal vision. Techniques to be used will include microscopy on the fine structure of the patch and its connections to the brain; biochemistry on possible pigment or neurotransmitter molecules; and electrophysiolgy on the light sensitivity. Results from this novel study will have impact on both visual neuroscience and biological oceanography, and possibly will define a new form of vision.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
9111248
Program Officer
Christopher Platt
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1991-09-01
Budget End
1994-02-28
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
$78,135
Indirect Cost
Name
Syracuse University
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Syracuse
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
13244