Objective
The natural lightscape is awash in a wealth of visual information that animal eyes have evolved to interpret and exploit. Often, they possess visual capabilities beyond our own, including perception of additional colors (wavelengths) or the polarization of light (the orientation of light waves - an entirely separate visual modality we have no sensitivity to). However, little is known about how these advanced visual systems evolved. I hypothesize that they emerged from segregated information channels tuned to distinct stimuli in certain regions of the light environment that control specific behaviors. My proposal aims to explore how new color and polarization circuits formed and integrated while maintaining their crucial primary functions. I will approach this from multiple, converging perspectives using invertebrate models with uniquely informative visual specialization: 1) water fleas, with miniaturized compound eyes featuring high degrees of regional specialization for color and polarization sensitivity, possibly akin to early visual systems; 2) mantis shrimp with the most elaborate color and polarization photoreceptive arsenal in nature; and 3) firefly squid, potentially the only cephalopod mollusk that has convergently evolved color vision in addition to their acute polarization sensitivity. From each of these perspectives, I will use advanced techniques to explore the building blocks of their color and polarization vision (photoreceptors), how they are assembled to collect and interpret visual information (neural circuitry), and how they function (visual ecology). I will discover the environmental factors that drive extreme color and polarization vision in animals, unravel the interplay between these modalities, and reveal the principles that ensure these advanced circuits are fast, efficient and accurate. Beyond delivering new understanding of sensory evolution, this work will have broad impacts for bioinspired sensing and environmental light monitoring.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- natural sciences biological sciences marine biology
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences behavioural ecology
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics photons
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
22100 Lund
Sweden
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.