DOI: 10.5061/dryad.8gtht76ts
title: Red vision in animals is broadly associated with lighting environment but not types of visual task

description: Red sensitivity is the exception rather than the norm in most animal
 groups. Among species with a long wavelength sensitive (LWS)
 photoreceptor, peak wavelength sensitivity (λmax) varies substantially and
 it is unclear whether this variation can be explained by visual tuning to
 the light environment or to visual tasks such as signalling or foraging.
 Here, we examine long wavelength sensitivity across a broad range of taxa
 showing diversity in LWS photoreceptor λmax: insects, crustaceans,
 arachnids, amphibians, reptiles, fish, sharks and rays. We identified 161
 species with a LWS photoreceptor (λmax ≥ 550 nm). We found evidence
 supporting visual tuning to the light environment: terrestrial species had
 longer λmax than aquatic species, and of these, species from turbid
 shallow waters had longer λmax than those from clear or deep waters. Of
 the terrestrial species, diurnal species had longer λmax than nocturnal
 species, but we did not detect any differences across terrestrial habitats
 (closed, intermediate or open). We found no association with proxies for
 visual tasks such as having red morphological features or utilising
 flowers or coral reefs. These results support the emerging consensus that,
 in general, visual systems are adapted to broad range of tasks, rather
 than tuned to certain tasks.
description: Full details of data collection and processing are in the
 manuscript.
description: R/RStudio
description: Red sensitivity is associated with lighting environment but not visual
 tasks Authors: Bryony M. Margetts, Devi Stuart-Fox and Amanda M. Franklin
 The dataset and R code in this Dryad database will run all analyses in the
 manuscript, and produce the figures and supplementary table. R Script:
 RedVision_Analysis.rmd This is an RMarkdown file which will run the
 analyses for the manuscript. Dataset: Dataset_DRYAD.csv Info: This dataset
 include all the species identified to have a long wavelength sensitive
 photoreceptor. For each species, we have documented environmental,
 behavioural and morphological variables as well as sensitivity of all
 photoreceptors. References for photoreceptor sensitivity data are provide.
 Class: Biological classification Order: Biological classification Family:
 Biological classification Genus: Biological classification Species:
 Biological classification Population: where applicable, population
 location if different populations of the same species were measured.
 Habitat1: Broad-scale habitat type. Terrestrial, aquatic or semi aquatic
 Habitat2: Sub-habitat type. terrestrial: open/ intermediate/closed
 aquatic: shallow-turbid/ shallow-clear/deep Note: semi-aquatic species
 have a combination of terrestrial and aquatic sub-habitat type
 Reef_coral_association: Aquatic organisms only, presence (Y) or absence
 (N) of coral associations, including feeding on, breeding in, or
 inhabiting coral reefs Lifestage: Life stage at time of measuring max.
 Adult or immature Activity: Species has activity pattern that is diurnal
 (D), nocturnal (N), is active during both day and night (B) or not
 applicable (NA). Flower_visitor: Flower association (e.g., forages upon or
 inhabits) present (Y) or absent (N) Diet: Diet of each species. Not used
 in analyses. notes: Extra remarks regarding morphological colouration,
 mate choice preference if applicable, and other potential indicators for
 longwavelength visual sensitivity Sex: Sex of the individuals used to
 collect max data. Female (F), male (M), or both sexes (B) Hue_dimorph:
 Presence (Y) or absence (N) of sexual dimorphism relating to hue. i.e. any
 difference in colour, including colours other than red. Intensity_dimorph:
 Presence (Y) or absence (N) of sexual dimorphism relating to colour
 intensity. Red_feature: Presence (Y) or absence (N) of a red morphological
 feature for either one or both sexs X1 -&gt; X11: Spectral sensitivity of
 each photoreceptor present Ymax: Spectral sensitivity of the
 longwavelength photoreceptor Methods: Method used by author/s to obtain
 spectral sensitivity data. Electroretinogram (ERG), microspectrophotometry
 (MSP), intracellular (Intra), stain or a combination of the above
 Reference: Original reference for photoreceptor sensitivity
 Reference.date: Date of paper publication doi..full.citation: DOI for
 publication