Limiting parameters of miniaturization at the cellular level in insect compound eyes

• Antragsteller: Dr. Stefan Fischer
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Biologie des Verhaltens und der Sinne
• Förderung: Förderung von 2013 bis 2014
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 237952107

The compound eyes of tiny insects face particular design pressures that adapt their function to miniaturisation, but current knowledge on the structure and function of miniaturised eyes is so far based solely on the morphological description of the compound eyes of only a few hymenopteran and lepidopteran species. Existing reports provide only the first indications concerning structural limiting factors but the latter nevertheless make a specialized comparative investigation of particular interest. To deepen our understanding on these limiting factors, the current project plans to use high-resolution 3D reconstruction of complete ommatidia of the tiniest hymenopterans, having body sizes below 0.7mm. The approach is innovative not only in the choice species, but also in being undertaken at a three-dimensional ultrastructural level using transmission electron micrographs (TEM) to investigate parameters, such as cell volumes, ratios between cell and organelle volumes, that lie beyond existing reports using more standard TEM investigations. The comparative approach, making use of different species and species revealing sexual dimorphisms in body and eye size, will allow me to test numerous parameters against each other in order to gain information about which structural and functional factors are optimised as a result of miniaturisation.

• DFG-Verfahren: Forschungsstipendien
• Internationaler Bezug: Kanada
• Beteiligte Person: Professor Ian A. Meinertzhagen, Ph.D.