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Old 04-02-2017, 05:44 PM   #45
whswhs
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Lawrence, KS
Default Re: [Basic] Advantage of the Week (#38): Dark Vision, Night Vision

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruno View Post
There's really no question that water blocks NIR, if that's what you were talking about.
There are researchers who seem to disagree with you; see for example http://journals.plos.org/plosone/art...l.pone.0064429, which says that "In turbid waters, in contrast, the relative content of red and NIR radiation is enhanced, due to increased scattering and absorption of short and middle range wavelengths by suspended particles and dissolved colored materials. . . . NIR vision, as an integral part of the whole spectrum of visual abilities, can serve as an evolutionarily adaptable trait in fish." Another article claims that salmon have an enzyme, Cyp27c1, that switches their peak spectral sensitivity into the NIR to help them swim through murky waters.

These reports seem to describe fish that swim in shallow waters. Perhaps water limiting the transmission of NIR doesn't eliminate it entirely at those depts? After all, water is opaque to much of the visible spectrum as well.
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