Response of Teleosts to the Plane of Polarized Light as Determined by the Heart Beat Rate

Abstract

The ability of teleosts to respond to the plane of polarized light was determined by their heart beat rate. When the plane of polarized light was changed, apparent cardiac deceleration was observed in tilapia, rainbow trout, and yellowtail, but there was no response in common carp and crimson sea-bream. To determine which organ perceives polarized light, the eye or the pineal organ, one or both were covered in some tests on tilapia and rainbow trout. The response disappeared when their eyes were covered. The fishes that respond possess polarized light vision, and polarized light is perceived by the eye. © 1981, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.