Polarized light and polarization vision in animal sciences

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This book presents advancements since the 2004 volume “Polarized Light in Animal Vision,” offering reviews and summaries across various topics. Part I explores polarization sensitivity in numerous animal taxa, including both vertebrates and invertebrates, covering terrestrial and aquatic life. Part II focuses on the characteristics of polarized light in nature, emphasizing the physics necessary for understanding how the visual system detects this light. It discusses underwater polarization from scattering, reflected polarization patterns from freshwater, forest canopy characteristics, and the normal and anomalous polarization patterns of the skies. Additionally, it addresses skylight polarization through Snell’s window and the linearly and circularly polarized signals produced by animals. This section also highlights the issue of polarized “light pollution” from human-made structures, which can create ecological traps for polarotactic insects. Part III reviews practical applications of polarization vision, including traps for biting insects, ground-based polarimetric cloud detectors, and historical insights into Viking navigational techniques using sky polarization. It also examines how ungulate pelage deters polarization-sensitive biting insects.