Visual ecology of alciopids: First case of ultra-violet bioluminescence?
Name of applicant
Anders Garm
Title
Associate Professor
Institution
University of Copenhagen
Amount
DKK 164,400
Year
2023
Type of grant
Research Infrastructure
Summary
The alciopids are enigmatic polycheate worms with huge eyes, which we have shown to be UV-sensitive. In this project we will use a special low light camera modified for UV-detection to test the hypothesis that the alciopids are the long sought first case of animals capable of producing UV bioluminescence and that they use this as a private channel for communication with conspecifics.