Postgraduate Research Project in Life Sciences - University of Sussex
Postgraduate Research Project (DPHIL) School of Life Sciences
*Project Title: Image spectra in the aquatic environment: the consequences
of spectrally absorbing media for colour vision and visual communication. *
*Supervisor: Dr Daniel Osorio email
**d.Osorio@sussex.ac.uk*
* *
*Funding: EPSRC January 07 start / BBSRC October 07 start*
*Project Abstract:
*Amongst land animals it is well known that colour is important for object
recognition. Colour signals are robust under variations in illumination and
context, and so are useful for identifying material properties. Colour
constancy is refers to the ability to recognize object colour independent of
illumination and is associated with a range of physiological mechanisms.
Some of my own work has dealt with problems of colour constancy in natural
images, and the demands placed on low-level visual mechanisms.
We know that colour vision is also important for marine animals. Many have
multiple types of spectral photoreceptor and they often use colour for
communication in courtship displays and many other contexts. Recently there
has been intense interest in the role of colour in mating preferences of
African Great-lake Cichlid fish, as colour preferences are thought to have
had a major role in their explosive speciation.
However colour constancy in water is a problem, because water is a
spectrally selective filter. In air, to a good first approximation, the
spectrum of light reaching the eye depends upon the reflectance of the
object and the illumination spectrum. In water the illumination spectrum
varies strongly with depth, and with water quality, and the spectral
distribution of reflected light is further modified between the object and
the viewer. I have published one paper on the topic in Vision Research.
My present impression is that a number of workers are aware of these issues
but that no one is doing serious work in the area.
The D.Phil. student would consider the following questions:
1. What is the problem?
2. How well might various strategies/mechanis ms of colour constancy work in
water? This would include
consideration of Horizontal cells in fish retina, which have long been known
to have complex spectral properties, and are almost certain to play a role
in colour constancy;
3. What are the consequences for visual communication, especially amongst
colourful fish. For example
what colours should they use and how should the display ? or view displays.
The student would:
1. Develop MATLAB (or similar) models, to answer these questions.
2. Collect spectra and natural image data, on which to run the models.
3. It is possible, but not essential that they would collaborate on or do
behavioural work in fish to test predictions of these models.
For further information please contact:
Karen White
Graduate School Co-ordinator, School of Life Sciences,
University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 8QG, UK
Email pglifesci@sussex.ac.uk Tel 01273 872774
Postgraduate Information and Prospectus http://www.sussex. ac.uk/pgstudy
Electronic and paper application forms
http://www.sussex. ac.uk/Units/publications/pgrad2007/applynow
-------------------------------------------------
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*Project Title: Image spectra in the aquatic environment: the consequences
of spectrally absorbing media for colour vision and visual communication. *
*Supervisor: Dr Daniel Osorio email
**d.Osorio@sussex.ac.uk*
* *
*Funding: EPSRC January 07 start / BBSRC October 07 start*
*Project Abstract:
*Amongst land animals it is well known that colour is important for object
recognition. Colour signals are robust under variations in illumination and
context, and so are useful for identifying material properties. Colour
constancy is refers to the ability to recognize object colour independent of
illumination and is associated with a range of physiological mechanisms.
Some of my own work has dealt with problems of colour constancy in natural
images, and the demands placed on low-level visual mechanisms.
We know that colour vision is also important for marine animals. Many have
multiple types of spectral photoreceptor and they often use colour for
communication in courtship displays and many other contexts. Recently there
has been intense interest in the role of colour in mating preferences of
African Great-lake Cichlid fish, as colour preferences are thought to have
had a major role in their explosive speciation.
However colour constancy in water is a problem, because water is a
spectrally selective filter. In air, to a good first approximation, the
spectrum of light reaching the eye depends upon the reflectance of the
object and the illumination spectrum. In water the illumination spectrum
varies strongly with depth, and with water quality, and the spectral
distribution of reflected light is further modified between the object and
the viewer. I have published one paper on the topic in Vision Research.
My present impression is that a number of workers are aware of these issues
but that no one is doing serious work in the area.
The D.Phil. student would consider the following questions:
1. What is the problem?
2. How well might various strategies/mechanis ms of colour constancy work in
water? This would include
consideration of Horizontal cells in fish retina, which have long been known
to have complex spectral properties, and are almost certain to play a role
in colour constancy;
3. What are the consequences for visual communication, especially amongst
colourful fish. For example
what colours should they use and how should the display ? or view displays.
The student would:
1. Develop MATLAB (or similar) models, to answer these questions.
2. Collect spectra and natural image data, on which to run the models.
3. It is possible, but not essential that they would collaborate on or do
behavioural work in fish to test predictions of these models.
For further information please contact:
Karen White
Graduate School Co-ordinator, School of Life Sciences,
University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 8QG, UK
Email pglifesci@sussex.ac.uk Tel 01273 872774
Postgraduate Information and Prospectus http://www.sussex. ac.uk/pgstudy
Electronic and paper application forms
http://www.sussex. ac.uk/Units/publications/pgrad2007/applynow
-------------------------------------------------
Study Abroad Scholarships,International Scholarships, Unusual Scholarships , College Scholarship, Scholarship Finder, Scholarships News
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