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Iridescence: More Than Meets The The First Annual Frontiers in Life Sciences Conference IRIDESCENCE More than Meets the Eye February 6 - 9, 2008 Arizona State University - School Of Life Sciences Old Main, Carson Ballroom, Tempe Campus photo credit: Melissa Meadows TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview . 2-3 Acknowledgements . 4-5 Daily Events . 6-7 Fashion Show . 8-11 Guest Speaker Biographies . 12-15 Conference organizers . 16 Oral Presentation Abstracts . 16-35 Poster Abstracts . 35-43 Subject Index . 44-45 photo credit: Tomatito26 | Dreamstime Stock Photos CONFERENCE OVERVIEW 2 A unique, integrative 4–day conference on iridescent colors in nature, Iridescence: More than Meets the Eye is a graduate student proposed and organized conference supported by the Frontiers in Life Sciences program in Arizona State University’s School of Life Sciences . This conference intends to connect diverse groups of researchers to catalyze synthetic cross– disciplinary discussions regarding iridescent coloration in nature, identify new avenues of research, and explore the potential for these stunning natural phenomena to provide novel insights in fields as divergent as materials science, sexual selection and primary science education . We invite you to join us for this exciting event February 6 – 9, 2008 at Old Main, Carson Ballroom, Tempe Campus . Each day of the conference will be dedicated to a specific area of study . We have invited twelve main speakers from all over the world and from disciplines ranging from biology to nanotechnology . The day will begin with a series of plenary–style talks by invited speakers, followed by shorter talks by other participants as time allows . Afternoon break–out sessions centered on the day’s topic will give interested participants a chance to discuss and share ideas, leading to new collaborations and several publications . We will also have an evening poster session on Thursday February 7 . On the final evening, we will host a banquet and iridescent art event in collaboration with ASU’s Herberger College of the Arts and the Phoenix Art Museum . Please see the links below for more information about our invited speakers, daily themes and activities, and the final banquet . 3 IRIDESCENCE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “Iridescence: More Than Meets the Eye” would not already written letters of support for our grant proposal, have been possible without the generous grant provided allowed us to use their well-known faces and impressive by the School of Life Sciences Research and Training biographies as advertisement on our website, and Initiatives Committee as part of the new Frontiers in have worked closely with us throughout the planning Life Sciences program . This innovative program, to our of this conference . Additionally, they are each giving a knowledge unique to Arizona State University, provides 30 minute talk, helping to lead discussion sessions in an annual award of $30,000 to a group of graduate the afternoons, and serving as judges for the student students at the School of Life Sciences to initiate and poster and talk competitions during the conference . organize a conference or workshop . Frontiers in Life We truly appreciate the support and enthusiasm that Sciences (FiLS) seeks to “highlight cutting-edge issues you have put towards this event . and discoveries in the life sciences” and “call attention to the excellent life science research going on in We would like to say a special thank you to the SoLS, publicizing our work both within and beyond artists and performers who have volunteered their ASU .” Proposals are accepted annually by the RTI time, resources, and talents to make our final banquet committee, and are evaluated based on many criteria, a memorable and unique event . Thanks to Galina including the intellectual scope and novelty of the Mihaleva, Jacqueline Benard, Dennita Sewell, meeting theme, an interdisciplinary emphasis, and a Zak Jones, and to our models and other artists solid logistical and financial plan . As the first group for your role in making this a truly interdisciplinary at ASU awarded this grant, we hope that our attempt and entertaining conference . to call together some of the best minds in the world to explore the phenomenon of iridescence from a variety of viewpoints will make the RTI committee proud, and will be a great beginning for the Frontiers in Life Sciences program . For their valuable comments on our proposal, their help with advertising the event, and of course for trusting our group to be the FiLS “guinea pigs,” we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the 2006-2007 RTI committee: James Elser, Andrew Hamilton, Yung Chang, Stan Faeth, Shelley Haydel, Josie Clark-Curtiss, Pierre Deviche, Rebecca Clark, Russ LaBrutto, and Peggy Coulombe . We would like to thank our invited speakers, without whom we may not have received this grant or attracted so many other scientists from across the globe! Dr . Stephanie Doucet, Dr . Helen Ghiradella, Dr . Roger Hanlon, Dr . Darrell Kemp, Dr . Kevin McGraw, Dr . Daniel Osorio, Dr . Richard Prum, Dr . Ronald Rutowski, Dr . Matthew Shawkey, Dr . Mohan Srinivasarao, Dr . Doekele Stavenga, and Dr . Peter Vukusic have 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5 DAI LY EVENTS Day 1 Mechanisms and Measurement Iridescent colors present a special problem for spectral quantification, as even slight movements of the colored object, illuminating light source and/or light collector can have large effects on the perceived spectra of the object . Despite this, many if not most researchers, particularly in the fields of animal behavior and evolutionary biology, have continued to use quantification methods that do not acknowledge this feature of iridescent coloration . While it is difficult to assess how detrimental this has been to the integrity of the results reported, there is a clear need for well–reasoned methodological are feasible in both laboratory and field settings? How recommendations that take in to account the interests do these recommendations change for animals living and knowledge of both evolutionary biologists and under water? Can spectral characteristics help us to physicists . How do we best characterize iridescent infer underlying optical mechanisms? What behavioral colors using modern spectrophotometric methods? data are needed to decide on the best arrangement Can we suggest ways of measuring these colors that of object, light source and collector? These questions and more will be addressed by invited speakers and will be discussed in an afternoon break–out session . Day 2 Development Animals produce iridescent colors using highly ordered arrays of nanostructures . Next to nothing is known about how these nanostructural arrays are developed in vivo . How are these precise arrays produced during development? What cellular and/or genetic processes are involved? How do they respond to environmental perturbations? Can we gain insights or suggest promising directions by looking at modern nanofabrication methods or known principles of material self–assembly? Would studies of biological “nanofabrication” inform the growing field of nanotechnology? Day 3 Evolution Like sequins on a stage costume, iridescent colors seem ideally suited to highlighting behavioral movements or impressing potential mates . Indeed, 6 recent research efforts have provided support for the of the Arts and the Phoenix Art Museum . At this event, idea that iridescent colors may serve as indicators of student dancers choreographed by Shouze Ma will male quality and may accentuate specific behaviors wear iridescent costumes created by costume artists during courtship . However, the literature on this subject Galina Mihaleva and Jacqueline Benard in a fashion is still relatively shallow . Even less well studied is the show-type performance . Following this, Dennita Sewell, role of iridescent colors in other evolutionary contexts . Phoenix Art Museum curator of fashion design will give For example, iridescent colors may be used to produce a lecture on the use of iridescence in traditional and startling and confusing flashes to ward off predation modern day fashion and costume . We will also announce attempts, as efficient warning colors for aposematic the winner(s) of the student poster competition and species, or as a signal during aggressive interactions . make final remarks . Registration for the conference is In some intriguing cases, these colors may even function required to attend this event . The cost is $35, payable in animal crypsis . This perhaps unexpectedly wide range by check or cash at the conference registration table of biological function exhibited by iridescent colors makes on February 6 . Please see the Registration page for questions regarding how and why they have evolved all details about reservations . the more compelling . Day 4 Education We suggest that iridescent colors can serve as engaging examples for teaching students about a diverse set of often cross–disciplinary subjects such as optics, nanofabrication, animal behavior and the evolution of complex traits . Can we identify specific examples of iridescence well suited to classroom instruction? How might we harness the eye–catching power of iridescent colors in the science classroom? Can we introduce students to the growing field of nanotechnology by using biological examples of nanostructures? We have invited education experts, science administrators, and local teachers from a variety of disciplines to join us in constructing classroom recommendations and curricular initiatives related to iridescent colors . We will request the input
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