From Polarization Sensitivity to Polarization Vision

Abstract

The forerunners of the study of polarization sensitivity in animals are Santschi (1923), Crozier and Mangelsdorf (1924), Verkhovskaya (1940) and Frisch (1949). In one of his behavioural experiments, Santschi depolarized the skylight with a ground glass disk held above an ant running on the ground to its nest. He observed that the ant suddenly stopped and searched around randomly. However, from this disorientation he did not draw the conclusion that the ant could perceive the polarization of skylight ( Wehner and Rossel 1985, p. 13). This hindered him to discover that certain ants can perceive the skylight polarization and use it for navigation.