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A recent study has uncovered that reindeer possess a unique type of night vision that allows them to locate sources of food.
A collaboration between the University of St Andrews and Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, US, led to a research project exploring the reason behind the seasonal change in eye color of reindeer.
During the winter months, the tapetum (the surface of a reindeer’s eyes) transforms from a golden-orange color to a vibrant blue. This unique phenomenon is exclusive to reindeer.
The research on “Reindeer and the search for Scottish enlightenment” discovered that the change in eye color of the species may aid in their vision during heavy snowfall in winter, but it also enables them to detect ultraviolet light.
Scientists stated that this raises additional inquiries due to the fact that the reflection of the sun’s UV rays on the snow leads to the species absorbing twice as much UV light, attributed to their superior vision.
According to them, this explains why deer have excellent vision in low light conditions and are able to search for food such as lichen.
Professor Nathaniel Dominy and Professor Charles Hansen from Dartmouth College, along with Dr Catherine Hobaiter and Professor Julie Harris from the University of St Andrews’ School of Psychology and Neuroscience, were the leaders of the research.
According to Professor Dominy, reindeer are fascinating creatures that are often only associated with Christmas.
This is an opportune moment to inform individuals about their remarkable ability to see.
Reindeer are known to feed on a particular species of lichen named Cladonia rangiferina, often colloquially referred to as “reindeer moss”.
The species of lichen is not actually moss, and it thrives in spongy formations throughout the northern regions where reindeer reside. It plays a crucial role in their winter survival.
According to Dr. Hobaiter, there has been a previous hypothesis that the reindeer’s night vision evolved as a way to search for lichen to feed on. However, previous experiments did not yield significant results.
According to her, there are more than 13,000 types of lichen found around the world. However, so far, nobody has examined the particular species that reindeer consume.
She mentioned that Scotland boasts a vast variety of lichen, making it one of the most diverse regions in the world. The Highlands alone have more than 1500 different species, and the Cairngorms are home to a group of reindeer that were brought back to Scotland after being wiped out by hunting. Therefore, Scotland presents an ideal opportunity to unravel the mystery.
In March of this year, the team started their research in the Cairngorms, looking for lichen habitats.
Under UV light, the team captured images of several lichen beds and observed that various species had varying degrees of light absorption or reflection. They also discovered that “reindeer moss” had a high level of light absorption.
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Imagine being in the same position as the reindeer, surrounded by this snowy landscape. You would prefer a straightforward path to your food. Reindeer want to conserve their energy and not spend it wandering around in search of food.
Dr Hobaiter noted that for both humans and many other mammals, it is very difficult to see pale lichen against a white backdrop of snow.
Reindeer use their keen eyesight to spot their prey as dark patches in the highly reflective snowy environment.
Professor Dominy stated that reindeer would prefer a direct path to their food in a white landscape, rather than expending energy wandering in a cold and desolate environment.
Being able to spot lichens from afar provides a significant benefit, allowing individuals to save energy during times of limited food availability.
Read about the pursuit of Scottish enlightenment by reindeer here.
Source: independent.co.uk
