The field of the ecology of vision has grown considerably since John Lythgoe first wrote his original book on the subject in 1979. John Lythgoe was instrumental in founding the subject that has inspired vision researchers to relate the functioning of the visual system with the visual requirements demanded by the environment and behaviour of the animal in it. This book represents a timely and much needed review of the wealth of research that has been carried out in the last twenty years. It deals with theoretical and physical considerations of light and photoreception, practical examples of visual system structure and function and aspects of visual behaviour and communication. Importantly, the book emphasises one of the main themes to have emerged from studies of the ecology of vision: that the visual system is extremely adaptable when confronted with changing environmental and behavioural conditions. Finally, this updated review is a multi-author collection of leading experts currently working in the field of visual ecology, a requirement that reflects the high level of current research activity. The book approaches the visual system from many different areas of biology including neurobiology, sensory biology, cellular biology and behavioural biology. Consequently, the book will be of interest to workers both within and outside the field of vision research and also to undergraduate and graduate students interested in vision.

Summarizes and synthesizes the status and understanding of the ecology of vision 20 years after it was founded as the study of visual systems by relating their function to the visual requirements demanded by the environment and behavior of the animal using the system. Addresses such areas as theoretical and physical considerations of light and photoreception, practical examples of visual system structure and function, and aspects of visual behavior and communication. Emphasizes the major theme that has emerged in the field that the visual system is extremely adaptable when confronted with changing environmental and behavioral conditions. Among the specific topics are the regulation of vertebrate biological clocks by light, the molecular biology of photoreceptor spectral sensitivity, and bioluminescence.
Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)