Researchers from Dartmouth College found that reindeer can change the color of the reflective membrane of their eye fundus from yellow to blue in winter. This allows them to see the ultraviolet spectrum to find lichens in the snow. Scientific study published magazine i-Perception.
Reindeer live in harsh environments and have many adaptations to them. In particular, their diet includes lichens – cladonia. These are whitish bushes that contain a large amount of nutrients and beneficial nutrients. It is easy to see in summer, but becomes a problem in winter due to its color.
According to the study’s authors, it was Cladonia that caused the seasonality of the light spectrum perceived by deer. Experiments have shown that Cladonia is most easily visible in twilight light in the range of 330-370 nanometers, which corresponds exactly to near ultraviolet. The reindeer’s unique eyes are just that, adapted to abduction and possibly also discrimination.
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