Research Project

Unravelling the Secret Communication of Coral Reef Fish

For my Master by Research I am conducting a study which delves into the ecology, evolution and behaviour of reef-associated fishes. On this page you can find further detail on the surrounding topic of my research, from Ultraviolet (UV) radiation to the selected families of fish I have chosen to investigate.

Methodology

What is UV Reflectance Spectrophotometry?

UV reflectance spectrophotometry is a scientific technique used to measure the reflectance properties of materials in the ultraviolet (UV) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. It involves illuminating a sample with UV light and measuring the intensity of the reflected light at different wavelengths. By analysing the reflectance spectrum, I can determine how much UV light is absorbed and how much is reflected by the sample across the UV range. In the context of my research, I use UV reflectance spectrophotometry to quantify and analyze the reflective properties of fish skin, scales, or other body parts that exhibit UV patterns or markings.

Spectrophotometer

Let's take a look at the apparatus. The typical setup of the equipment can be seen in Fig 1.

Figure 1: The diagram shows the setup of the portable spectrophotometer. The main components of the apparatus include 1) Mini FLAME Spectrometer 2) Tungsten Halogen Light Source 3) Reflection Probe with Holder 4) Optic Fibre Wires 5) Reflectance Standard and 6) Tablet PC or Laptop.

How does a UV Reflectance Spectrophotometer work?

A UV reflectance spectrophotometer operates by:

  1. Light Source: The spectrophotometer emits UV light onto the sample being analysed. The light source may consist of UV LEDs or a UV lamp, depending on the specific design of the instrument.

  2. Sample Holder: The sample to be analyzed is placed in a holder or cuvette within the spectrophotometer or beneath a probe holder. The sample holder or probe holder is designed to ensure consistent positioning of the sample/probe for accurate measurements, typically 0.5cm away for maximum analysis proficiency.

  3. Detector: After the sample is illuminated with UV light, the detector in the spectrophotometer measures the intensity of the light reflected from the sample across a range of UV wavelengths. The detector may be a photodiode array or a photomultiplier tube, depending on the instrument's design.

  4. Data Analysis: The spectrophotometer collects data on the intensity of UV light reflected by the sample at different wavelengths. This data is then processed and analysed by the instrument's software to generate a reflectance spectrum for the sample.

  5. Results: The reflectance spectrum provides information about how the sample interacts with UV light, including the extent to which it absorbs or reflects UV radiation at different wavelengths. I can use this data to characterise the UV-reflective properties of the sample and gain insights into its composition, structure, or other relevant properties.