La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Can a predator see 'invisible' light? Infrared vision in ferrets (Mustela furo)
Auteurs :	Haylie G. Newbold, Auteur ; Carolyn M. King, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Wildlife Research (36(4) 2009)
Article en page(s) :	309-318
Langues:	Anglais
Résumé :	Infrared (wavelengths > 750 nm) light-emitting equipment is commonly used worldwide to monitor nocturnal predator and prey behaviour. However, it is possible that the infrared (IR)-light wavelengths emitted from the equipment are so close to the spectral threshold of some key species that the light may be detected. An operant procedure was used to test whether five male ferrets (Mustela furo) could see an IR light with peak wavelengths of 870 and 920 nm. First, the ferrets were taught to press a lever under a lit white light for food reinforcement (overall mean response accuracy was 89%). Changing the properties (wavelength and intensity) of the light did not disrupt the ferrets' abilities to perform the learned task. When the light was changed to IR (870 nm), four of five ferrets responded to the light at levels significantly higher than chance (mean = 68%, n = 4188, P

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