Animal Colour Patterns and Perception

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of crypsis?

Warning predators of toxicity

Communicating with prey

Signaling aggression

Avoiding detection (correct)

What is the term for avoiding detection?

Camouflage

Aposematism

Deception

Crypsis (correct)

What is the opposite of crypsis?

Mimicry

Deception

Camouflage

Aposematism (correct)

What drives the evolution of masquerade?

Predator-prey interactions Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of coloration in predator-prey interactions?

It helps prey avoid predators Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for plants that resemble stones?

Lithops Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the study of signs and symbols?

Semiotics Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary influence on the evolution of masquerade?

Habitat influence Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a widely studied form of deception?

Masquerade Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the relationship between predators and prey?

Predator-prey dynamics Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when predators focus on the more common prey types in an environment?

Aposta c selection Signup and view all the answers

What is the advantage of rarer individuals in an environment where predators practice aposta c selection?

They are more likely to be overlooked Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary outcome of the first three replications in the experiment by Bond and Kamil (1998)?

Balanced polymorphism is produced in the virtual prey Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of the fifth replication in the experiment by Bond and Kamil (1998)?

Balanced polymorphism is maintained Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of predators eating more of the commoner prey item than expected from their relative frequency in the environment?

A balanced polymorphism Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of the paper by Bond and Kamil (1998)?

Aposta c selection by blue jays produces balanced polymorphism Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor in considering colour matching in animal camouflage?

The colour vision capabilities of the species being observed Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the experiment by Cuthill et al (2005)?

To investigate the role of markings on the body of an animal in camouflage Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the experiment by Cuthill et al (2005)?

The prey with the appropriate markings at the edges did the best Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the markings on the body of an animal in camouflage?

To break up the outline of the animal Signup and view all the answers

What is the visual system of predators sensitive to?

Detecting edges in natural scenes Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the mealworm in the experiment by Cuthill et al (2005)?

To provide a reward for animals that locate the prey Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the placement of markings on the edges of the animal's body?

The animal becomes less visible to predators Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of edge detection in camouflage?

It helps to break up the outline of the animal Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Apostactic Selection and Polymorphism

Apostactic selection occurs when predators focus on the more common prey types, causing rarer individuals to be overlooked.
This leads to the maintenance of polymorphism in the population.

Experimental Approach to Apostactic Selection

Researchers used a simple experimental approach to study apostactic selection, where triangle-shaped cardboard/paper cutouts resembling a resting moth were pinned to trees in the woods of the UK.
A small mealworm was provided as a reward to any animal that located the 'prey'.

Importance of Pattern Placement

The placement of patterns and markings on the body of the animal is critical for avoiding detection.
Prey with uniform coloration did poorly, while prey with appropriate markings fared better.
The most successful prey items were those with markings located at the edges of the animal, which break up the outline of the animal and fool the visual system of predators.

Edge Detection and Disruptive Coloration

The visual system of predators is highly sensitive to detecting edges in natural scenes.
Disruptive coloration, which involves breaking up the outline of the animal, is an effective way to avoid detection.

Other Relevant Factors

Colour perception and vision capabilities of species vary considerably.
Patterns and markings of animals are also important for avoiding detection.
It is not just important to possess the same kind of markings found in the environment, but also to consider the position of these markings on the body.

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Description

This quiz explores the importance of considering colour perception in animals, including the variability of species' colour vision capabilities and the significance of patterns and markings.