A new species of Australian bioluminescent ostracod (Myodocopina: Cypridinidae) with an unreported iridescent structure

A new species of cypridinid (Myodocopina) ostracod is described. This species, from off the west coat of Tasmania, is a scavenger. It occurs in an area of relatively high diversity of scavenging crustaceans, and exhibits feeding limbs well equipped for scavenging. Vargula karamu produces bioluminescence but displays subordinate iridescence as compared to the non-bioluminescent Skogsbergia sp. (Skogsbergia sp. uses iridescence during courtship, Parker 1995). It bears a long terminal seta on the endopodite of the second antenna which iridesces blue and is positioned very close to the other iridescent structures in the whole animal. This is the first report of iridescence from the second antenna of Myodocopina.     

光子学视角分析自然界中的生物结构色彩美

自然界中很多生物体呈现出五彩缤纷的生物结构色彩, 这是由于生物体的物理亚显微结构使光发生干涉、衍射或散射的光学效果, 是天然的光子晶体结构. 本文在生物结构实体测量与文献综合调研基础上, 归纳分析了蝴蝶翅色、鸟类羽色、欧泊宝石、贝类壳层、甲虫体壁等一些生物色彩形成的内因机制, 并分析了某些生物结构有利于自体生存的生理功能. 通过对自然界中某些生物结构色、形成机理及其应用研究, 可促进有利于人们生产生活的仿生科学技术的发展, 对制备新型光子晶体结构以及新型功能光子元件提供新思路.