Graduation Year

2004

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.A.

Degree Granting Department

Psychology

Major Professor

Toru Shimizu, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Sarah Partan, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Robert Hueter, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Cynthia Cimino, Ph.D.

Keywords

Bonnethead, shark, ganglion, vision, retina

Abstract

The goal of this project was to examine the visual system of the bonnethead shark (Sphyrna tiburo). The eyes of this shark are located at the extreme lateral ends of a broad, elongated cephalofoil. Better understanding of their visual system may aid in determining the adaptive benefits of their usual head shape. The proposed project examined one specific aspect of their visual system: the organization of retinal ganglion cells and identification of areas of increased resolution. Two experiments were conducted to realize these aims: (1) staining of retinal ganglion cells, to examine their distributional pattern, and (2) retrograde staining of retinal ganglion cells to determine morphology.

Share

COinS