Queensland Brain Institute
University of Queensland
Presentation Title
Prawns in Space: the amazing world of mantis shrimps and what it can teach us
Abstract
Since the discovery of the unique colour and polarisation vision system in stomatopod crustaceans (mantis shrimps) 25 years ago, further investigations on these wonderful animals has unearthed much to get excited and confused about. This presentation aims to give a whistle-stop summary tour of the highlights. This includes the following: a) Colour vision with 12 spectral channels, ‘cochlear vision’ - a new principle of colour vision? b) Ecology of colour vision c) Linear polarisation vision and polarization signals - a new language? d) Circular polarization vision - a new visual sense and translation into rainbow-ray DVDs. f) Optics and eye-movement line-scan systems, the satellite connection. g) Can a ‘prawn in space’ save the earth?
Research
My principle aim is to understand how other animals perceive their environment. As arrogant humans we tend to assume we are the pinnacle of evolution, however, certainly in sensory terms this is far from true. By taking an approach to sensory systems which is based around ecology but also includes physiology, anatomy, behaviour and neural integration, I hope to decode languages such as colour and polarisation.
My six main research streams are:
Visual ecology and comparative visual systems in reef and rainforest.
Vision in stomatopod (mantis shrimp) – the world’s most complex visual system.
Reef fish vision – the evolution and diversity of colour vision
Cephalopod vision and behaviour - complex visual capability in invertebrates
Deep-Downunder – unlocking the sensory systems of the abyss
Coral Watch – using colour to save the reef
Qualifications
BSc.Zoology1st Class Hons., The University of St Andrews, Scotland, 1981-1985.
DPhil in Neurobiology 1991. The University of Sussex, Brighton, 1986-1996.
Positions Held in Last Five Years
ARC Professorial Research Fellow Level 2 SBMS, QBI 2006 - 2010
Affiliated Professor in the Queensland Brain Institute 2008 - 2010
Affiliated Professor in the School of Biomedical Sciences 2010 -
Current position - Professor in the Queensland Brain Institute 2010 -
Career Publication Summary
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17 papers (73% ERA - A* or A) 5 in Nature, 3 in Science, 7 in Current Biology,
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18 chapters / reviews and 2 edited monographs in sensory neuroscience.
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15 research highlights or reports in Nature, Science News, New Scientist, Scientific American, National Geographic.
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1 book, 1 edited book, 1 edited encyclopedia section in ecology, neurobiology and behaviour.
- 152 conference papers and abstracts, including refereed and contributed papers.
Key publications
1. NW Roberts1, T-H Chiou, NJ Marshall and TW Cronin 2009 A biological quarter-wave retarder with excellent achromaticity in the visible wavelength region. Nature Photonics 3:641-644.
2. Tsyr-Huei Chiou, T-H, et al and Marshall, N.J 2008 Circular Polarization Vision in a Stomatopod Crustacean. Current Biology, 18, 429-434.
3. CH Mazel, TW Cronin, RL Caldwell and NJ Marshall 2004 Fluorescent enhancement of signalling in a mantis shrimp. Science 303:51.
4 Sensory processing in the aquatic environment 2003 (eds SP Collin and NJ Marshall) Springer. New York.
5. KE Arnold, IPF Owens and NJ Marshall 2002 Fluorescent signaling in parrots. Science. 295:92-93.
6. TW Cronin, NJ Marshall and RL Caldwell 2001 Tunable colour vision in a mantis shrimp. Nature 411:547-548.
7. NJ Marshall and J Oberwinkler 1999. The colourful world of the mantis shrimp. Nature 401:873-874.
8. NJ Marshall and JB Messenger 1996. Colour-blind camouflage. Nature 382:408-409.
9. TW Cronin and NJ Marshall, 1989 (Front cover). A Retina with at least Ten Spectral Types of Photoreceptors in a Mantis Shrimp. Nature 339: 137-140.
10. NJ Marshall, 1988. A Unique Colour and Polarization Vision System in Mantis Shrimps. Nature 333: 557-560.
Awards and Honours
Royal Society of London John Murray Scholarship 1989, 1990
Royal Society of London Travel Scholarship 1991.
NSF Postgraduate Award 1994
ARC QEII Research Fellow 1996 - 2001
L’Oreal Art and Science Award 2001 (Paris, Tokyo) $50,000
UQ Vice Chancellors Excellence Award 2001 $80,000
ARC Professorial Research Fellow Level 1 2001 - 05
ARC Professorial Research Fellow Level 2 2005 – present
QBI Professor 2006 - present
UQ Professor Research 2005 - present
President Australian Coral Reef Society 2008 - 2010
Honorary board member of ProjectAWARE
Advisory Board member of ORCA
Further Information
Professor Marshall CV
Marshall Laboratory Website
Coral Watch
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