Biology: Visual Ecology

Cephalopods Octopus bimaculoides (left) Sepia officinalis (middle) Sepioteuthis sepioidea (right)

About me: I was born in February 1975 in Bad Saarow (Land Brandenburg) and spent a large part of my childhood on a farm on which my mother grew up. My father was born in Saxony, Germany. He is an opera singer and worked at the opera house in Chemnitz for many years. When I was 16, we moved to Chemnitz, where, a few years later, I finished my "Abitur" (level prior to university) at the Georgius Agricola Gymnasium. Even though I grew up with music and the arts, my love for animals and nature led me to a career in science. I ended up becoming a biologist.

 

Education: After my Abitur, I studied Zoology at the University of Sheffield in the UK (1995-1998), followed by a PhD, which I completed at the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, UK (1998-2001). In 2002, I moved to Australia, where I joined the Vision Touch and Hearing Research Center at the University of Queensland. Our research trips took us to several the field stations on the Great Barrier Reef. My last professional move took me to the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA, where I have been since 2004. Until recently, I led a research lab at the MBL, and have been teaching at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. 

 

Research interests: Ever since my PhD work, I've been fascinated by Visual Ecology. The kinds of questions we are asking in this area of research revolve around the adaptations of an animal's eyes, as well as its visual camouflage and signalling mechanisms, to the animal's habitat and life style. While my research primarily encompasses marine organisms, particularly cephalopods and fish, I have occasionally worked with birds and insects. 

 

My publication list can be found at the bottom of this page.

The skin of cephalopods (squid, cuttlefish, octopus) is diverse in terms of the colours and patterns that can be produced. Moreover, the skin structures (chromatophores and light reflectors) that produce these colours and patterns can undergo rapid changes, which, depending on behavioural context can result in highly effective camouflage, or dramatic signalling display patterns. Many species additionally rely on their transparent bodies for camouflage, using their skin elements primarily for visual signalling.

Animal eyes come in a variety of shapes; two examples shown here are a squid eye (left) and the eye of a skate (right). Animals don't necessarily see the world the way we do - already the different pupil shapes suggest as much!

Publications

  • Mäthger, L.M., Bok, M.J., Liebich, J., Sicius, L. and Nilsson, D.E. (2022) Pupil dilation and constriction in the skate Leucoraja erinacea in a simulated natural light field. Journal of Experimental Biology, 225, 243221.
  • Mäthger, L.M., Zhao, K. and Herbst, L., (2021) Photoreceptors in skate are arranged to allow for a broad horizontal field of view. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 529, 1184-1197.
  • Youn, S., Okinaka, C., and Mäthger, L. M. (2019) Elaborate pupils in skates help camouflage the eye. J. Exp. Biol. doi: 10.1242/jeb.195966
  • Jinson, S. T., Liebich, J. Senft, S. L. Mäthger, L. M. (2018) Retinal specializations and visual ecology in the Little skate Leucoraja (Raja) erinacea Mitchell, 1825. J. Comp Neurol. 526, 1962-1977.
  • Hanlon, R. T., Mäthger, L. M., Bell, G. G. R, Kuzirian, A. M., Senft, S. L. (2017) White reflection from cuttlefish skin leucophores. Bioinspiration and Biomimetics. doi: 10.1088/1748-3190/aaa3a9
  • Akkaynak, D., Siemann, L. A., Barbosa, A., Mäthger, L. M. (2017) Changeable camouflage: how well can flounder resemble the colour and spatial scale of substrates in their natural habitats? Royal Society Open Science  4, 160824. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160824
  • Buresch, K. C., Ulmer, K. M., Cramer, C., McAnulty, S., Davison, W., Mäthger, L. M., Hanlon, R. T. (2015) Tactical decisions for changeable cuttlefish camouflage: visual cues for choosing masquerade are relevant from a greater distance than visual cues used for background matching. Biol. Bull. 229, 160 –166.
  • Buresch, K. C., Ulmer, K. M., Akkaynak, D., Allen, J. J., Mäthger, L. M., Nakamura, M., Hanlon, R. T. (2015) Cuttlefish adjust body pattern intensity with respect to substrate intensity to aid camouflage, but do not camouflage in extremely low light. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 462, 121-126.
  • Deravi, L. F., Magyar, A. P., Sheehy, S. P., Bell, G. R. R., Mäthger, L. M., Senft, S. L., Wardill, T. J., Lane, W. S., Kuzirian, A. M., Hanlon, R. T., Hu, E. L., Parker, K. K. (2014) The structure–function relationships of a natural nanoscale photonic device in cuttlefish chromatophores. J. R. Soc. Interface 11, 20130942 doi: 10.1098/rsif.2013.0942.
  • Bell, G. R. R.*, Mäthger, L.M.*, Gao, M., Senft, S. L., Kuzirian, A. M., Kattawar, G. W., Hanlon, R. T. (2014) Diffuse white structural coloration from multilayer reflectors in a squid. Advanced Materials 26, 4352-4356. DOI: 10.1002/adma.201400383 (*shared first authorship).
  • Staudinger, M. D., Buresch, K. C., Mäthger, L.M., Fry, C., McAnulty, S., Ulmer, K. M., Hanlon, R. T. (2013) Defensive responses of cuttlefish to different teleost predators. Biological Bulletin 225, 161-174.
  • Ulmer, K.M., Buresch, K.C., Kossodo, M.M., Mäthger, L.M., Siemann, L.A., Hanlon, R.T. (2013). Vertical visual features have a strong influence on cuttlefish camouflage. Biological Bulletin 224, 110-118.
  • Mäthger, L. M., Hanlon, R. T., Håkansson, J., Nilsson, D.-E. (2013) The W-shaped pupil in cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis): functions for improving horizontal vision. Vision Research 83, 19–24
  • Mäthger, L. M., Senft, S. L., Gao, M., Karaveli, S., Bell, G. R. R., Zia, R., Kuzirian, A. M., Dennis, P. B., Crookes-Goodson, W. J., Naik, R. R.,.Kattawar, G. W., Hanlon, R. T. (2013) Bright white scattering from protein spheres in color changing, flexible cuttlefish skin. Advanced Functional Materials 23, 3980-3989.
  • Hanlon, R. T., Chiao, C.-C., Mäthger, L. M., Marshall, N. J. (2013) A fish-eye view of cuttlefish camouflage, using in-situ spectrophotometry. J. Linnean Soc. 109, 535-551.
  • Bell, G. B. B., Kuzirian, A. M., Senft, S. S., Mäthger, L. M., Wardill, T. J., Hanlon, R. T. (2013) Chromatophore radial muscle fibers anchor in flexible squid skin. J. Invert. Biol. 132, 120-132. Article featured front cover of journal
  • Akkaynak, D., Allen, J. J., Mäthger, L. M., Chiao, C.-C., Hanlon, R. T. (2013) Quantification of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) camouflage in the eyes of fish predators: A study of color and luminance using in situ spectrometry. J. Comp. Physiol A. 199, 211-225.
  • Kreit, E., Mäthger, L. M., Hanlon, R. T., Dennis, P. B., Naik, R. R., Forsythe E., Heikenfeld, J. (2013) Biological versus electronic adaptive coloration: how can one inform the other? J. R. Soc. Interface. 10, 20120601 doi: 10.1098/rsif.2012.0601. Article featured front cover of journal
  • Mäthger, L. M., Bell, G. R. R., Kuzirian, A. M., Allen, J. J., Hanlon, R. T. (2012) How does the blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata) flash its blue rings? Journal of Experimental Biology. 215, 3752-3757.
  • Mäthger, L. M., & Hanlon, R. T. (2012). Pigmentation or transparency? Camouflage tactics in deep-sea cephalopods. Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research 25, 295-296 (Article featured front cover of journal).
  • Buresch, K.C., Mäthger, L.M, Allen, J.J., Bennice, C., Smith, N., Schram, J., Chiao, C.C. and Hanlon, R.T. (2011). The use of background matching vs. masquerade for camouflage in cuttlefish Sepia officinalis. Vision Research 51, 2362-2368.
  • Barbosa, A., Allen, J. J., Mäthger, L. M. and Hanlon, R.T. 2012. Cuttlefish use visual cues to determine arm postures for camouflage. Proc R Soc B 279, 84-90.
  • Hanlon, R. T., Chiao, C-C., Mäthger, L. M., Buresch, K. C., Barbosa, A., Allen, J. J., Siemann, L., Chubb, C. (2011). Rapid adaptive camouflage in cephalopods. Animal Camouflage, ed. M. Stevens and S. Merilaita, Cambridge University Press.
  • Shashar, N., Johnsen, S., Lerner, A., Sabbah, S., Chiao, C.-C., Mäthger, L. M., and Hanlon, R. T. (2011). Underwater linear polarization- physical limitations to biological functions. Phil Trans R Soc Lond B. 366, 649-654.
  • Mäthger, L. M., Lohmann, K. J., Limpus, C. J. & Fritsches, K. A. (2011). An unsuccessful attempt to elicit orientation responses to linearly polarized light in hatchling loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Phil Trans R Soc Lond B. 366, 757-762.
  • Mäthger, L. M., Roberts, S. B. & Hanlon, R. T. (2010). Evidence for distributed light sensing in the skin of cuttlefish Sepia officinalis. Biology Letters 6, 600-603.
  • Allen, J. J.*, Mäthger, L. M.*, Buresch, K. C., Fetchko, T., Gardner, M. & Hanlon, R. T. (2010). Night vision by cuttlefish enables changeable camouflage.  Journal of Experimental Biology 213, 2953-2960. (*shared first authorship)
  • Siebeck, U. E., Parker, A. N., Sprenger, D., Mäthger, L. M. & Wallis, G. (2010). A species of reef fish that uses ultraviolet patterns for covert face recognition. Current Biology 20, 1-4.
  • Allen, J. J., Mäthger, L. M., Barbosa, A., Buresch, K. C., Sogin, E., Schwartz, J., Chubb, C. & Hanlon, R. T. (2010) Cuttlefish dynamic camouflage: responses to substrate choice and integration of multiple visual cues. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 277, 1031-1039.
  • Chiao, C. C., Chubb, C., Buresch, K. C., Barbosa, A., Allen, J. J., Mäthger, L. M. & Hanlon, R. T. (2010). Mottle camouflage patterns in cuttlefish: quantitative characterization and visual background stimuli that evoke them. Journal of Experimental Biology 213, 187-199.
  • Izumi, M., Sweeney, A., DeMartini, D., Weaver, J., Powers, M. L., Tao, A., Silvas, T. V., Kramer, R. M., Crookes-Goodson, W. J., Mäthger, L. M., Naik, R. R., Hanlon, R. T. & Morse, D. E. (2009). Changes in reflectin protein phosphorylation are associated with dynamic iridescence changes in squid. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 2009, doi:10.1098/rsif.2009.0299.
  • Mäthger, L. M., Denton, E. J., Marshall, N. J. & Hanlon, R. T. (2009). Mechanisms and behavioral functions of structural colouration in cephalopods. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 6, S149-S163.
  • Mäthger, L. M., Shashar, N. & Hanlon, R. T. (2009). Commentary: Do cephalopods communicate using polarized light reflections from their skin? Journal of Experimental Biology 212, 2133-2140.
  • Hanlon, R. T., Chiao, C.-C., Mäthger, L. M., Barbosa, A., Buresch, K. C. & Chubb, C. (2009). Cephalopod dynamic camouflage: bridging the continuum between background matching and disruptive coloration. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 364, 429-437.
  • Allen, J. J., Mäthger, L. M., Barbosa, A. & Hanlon, R. T. (2009) Cuttlefish use visual cues to control 3-dimensional skin papillae for camouflage. J Comp Physiol A 195, 547-555.
  • Mäthger, L. M., Chiao, C.-C., Barbosa, A. & Hanlon, R. T. (2008). Color matching on natural substrates in cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis. J Comp Physiol A 194, 577-585.
  • Sutherland, R. L., Mäthger, L. M., Hanlon, R. T., Urbas, A. M. & Stone, M. O. (2008). Cephalopod coloration model. II. Multiple layer skin effects. Journal of the Optical Society of America A. 25, 2044-2054.
  • Barbosa, A., Mäthger, L. M., Buresch, K. C., Kelly, J., Chubb, C., Chiao, C. C. & Hanlon, R. T. 2008 Cuttlefish camouflage: The effects of substrate contrast and size in evoking uniform, mottle or disruptive body patterns. Vision Res. 48, 1242-1253.
  • Sutherland, R. L., Mäthger, L. M., Hanlon, R. T., Urbas, A. M., Stone, M. O. (2007). Cephalopod coloration model. I. Squid chromatophores and iridophores. Journal of the Optical Society of America A. 25, 588-599.
  • Chiou, T-H, Mäthger, L. M., Hanlon, R. T. and Cronin, T. W. (2007) Spectral and spatial properties of polarized light reflections from the arms of squid (Loligo pealeii) and cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis L.). J. Exp. Biol. 210, 3624-3635. Article featured front cover of journal
  • Mäthger, L. M., Chiao, C.-C., Barbosa, A., Buresch, K. C., Kaye, S. and Hanlon, R. T. (2007). Disruptive coloration elicited on controlled natural substrates in cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis. J. Exp. Biol. 210, 2657-2666.
  • Mäthger, L. M. and Hanlon, R. T. (2007). Malleable skin coloration in cephalopods: selective reflectance, transmission and absorbance of light by chromatophores and iridophores. Cell and Tissue Research 329, 179-186.
  • Barbosa, A., Mäthger, L. M., Chubb, C., Florio, C., Chiao, C.-C. and Hanlon, R. T. (2007). Disruptive coloration in cuttlefish: a visual perception mechanism that regulates ontogenetic adjustment of skin patterning. J. Exp. Biol. 210, 1139-1147.
  • Mäthger, L. M., Litherland, L. and Fritsches, K. A. (2007). An anatomical study of the visual capabilities of the green turtle, Chelonia mydas. Copeia 1007, 169-179.
  • Mäthger, L. M. and Hanlon, R. T. (2006). Anatomical basis for camouflaged polarized light communication in squid. Biology Letters 2, 494-496.
  • Mäthger, L. M., Barbosa, A., Miner, S. and Hanlon, R. T. (2006). Color blindness and contrast perception in cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) determined by a visual sensorimotor assay. Vision Research 46, 1746-1753. (Article featured front cover of journal)
  • Mäthger, L. M., Collins, T. F. C. and Lima, P. A. (2004). The role of muscarinic receptors and intracellular Ca2+ in the spectral reflectivity changes of squid iridophores. J. Exp. Biol. 207, 1759-1769. (Article featured front cover of journal)
  • Mäthger, L. M., Land, M. F., Siebeck, U. E. and Marshall, N. J. (2003). Rapid colour changes in multilayer reflecting stripes in the Paradise Whiptail, Pentapodus paradiseus. J. Exp. Biol. 206, 3607-3613.
  • Mäthger, L. M. (2003). The response of squid and fish to changes in the angular distribution of light. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 83, 849-856.
  • Mäthger, L. M. and Denton, E. J. (2001). Reflective properties of iridophores and fluorescent ‘eyespots’ in the loliginid squid Alloteuthis subulata and Loligo vulgaris. J. Exp. Biol. 204, 2103-2118. (Article featured front cover of journal)
 

Other notable publications

  • 2014    “Dynamic Displays in Nature” by L. M. Mäthger and R. T. Hanlon – article in the magazine Information Display 1/2014. Article featured front cover of magazine
  • 2012    Der Spiegel Wissenschaft Oct. 2012; Krake warnt Feinde mit Blaulicht, Lydia Mäthger
  • 2012    Scientific American, Octopus Chronicles “Deadly octopus flashes bright blue warning with super reflective skin” by Katherine Harmon. Featured interview with L Mäthger
  • 2012    Discovery Channel (Canada), Daily Planet Featured Mäthger et al. (2012) How does the blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata) flash its blue rings?
  • 2012    Science NOW article by Gisela Telis. Features interview about blue-ringed octopus manuscript (Mäthger et al 2012)
  • 2012    Discovery News 3 March 2012; by Kate Prengaman. Featured interview about biological background on materials inspired by color-changing animals
  • 2009    City of Melbourne, Australia; Maxims of Behaviour by artist Alexander Knox, who used my images in a light show about cuttlefish.
  • 2009    Goodenough/McGuire/Jakob Animal Behavior 3rd edition – used my images on cuttlefish camouflage
  • 2008    Animal Life by Charlotte Uhlenbroek (2008) – used my images of iridescence in squid skin.
  • 2008    Science Perspectives article by Vaia & Baur 2008 Science 319, 420-421. Used my images.
  • 2008    New Scientist article „Do you speak cuttlefish“, April 2008, pp 28-31. Featured interview about polarized light communication in cephalopods, text by Michael Brooks.
  • 2007    Chemical and Engineering News, Science/Technology “Hide And Seek – Cephalopod camouflage inspires materials research” (Vol. 85, Number 46, pp. 49-50), text by Bethany Halford
  • 2007    Outside JEB (1 March 2007) Publication of the Journal of Experimental Biology; “Polarized Squid”, text by James Usherwood
  • 2006    Nature News “Octopus skin yields bright discovery – Natural proteins act as super reflectors” by Katharine Sanderson
  • 2006    Biophotonics International (October 2006, 84-85) “Squids may communicate incognito”, text by Nancy D Lamontagne, images by L Mäthger
  • 2006    Science Daily (Sep. 20, 2006) Online source of research news „Squid Skin Reveals Hidden Messages“
  • 2006    New York Times, Science, 10 October 2006 Mäthger & Hanlon (2006) Biology Letters paper featured in “Travels with goats, and their humans” by Henry Fountain.
  • 2006    Falmouth Enterprise, 29 September 2006 “Squid skin may reveal hidden messages”, article featuring Mäthger & Hanlon (2006) Biology Letters paper.
  • 2006    Discovery Channel (Canada), 20 April 2006, “A day in the life of a cuttlefish” Interviewed as part of the “Daily Planet” TV series. Broadcast on national TV in Canada, also available online [http://www.exn.ca/dailyplanet/view.asp?date=4/20/2006].
  • 2006    Der Spiegel 2006, Heft (Vol.) 7 “Planet Tiefsee”, pp. 136-137 Leading German News Magazine. Interviewed and featured as part of main article about the deep sea.

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