Background matching and camouflage efficiency predict population density in four-eyed turtle ( Sacalia quadriocellata )

Xiao, Fanrong; Yang, Canchao; Shi, Haitao; Wang, Jichao; Sun, Liang; Lin, Liu

doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2016.08.007

Cited by 17 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 43 publications

(52 reference statements)

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“…Background‐choice behaviour of animals should have a range of important outcomes and implications for exploitation of resources and (micro‐)habitats. In the first instance, a range of camouflaged animals show phenotype–environment associations, which can lead to matching to specific habitats (Stevens et al, ; Xiao et al, ). Such associations and matching can arise through genetic adaptation (e.g.…”

Section: Background Choicementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most plausible explanation for this is that crabs behaviourally choose substrates to associate with based on appearance. Indirect evidence of microhabitat selection for camouflage also exists from field studies of freshwater turtles (Xiao et al, ). Beyond this, many crabs and other crustaceans show size‐/age‐dependent shifts in habitat use that correlate with changes in appearance (usually through ontogeny), and one potential explanation is that this is related to differences in predation risk and camouflage in different habitats (Todd, Qiu & Chong, ; Duarte et al, ).…”

Section: Background Choicementioning

confidence: 99%

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The key role of behaviour in animal camouflage

2018

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Animal camouflage represents one of the most important ways of preventing (or facilitating) predation. It attracted the attention of the earliest evolutionary biologists, and today remains a focus of investigation in areas ranging from evolutionary ecology, animal decision-making, optimal strategies, visual psychology, computer science, to materials science. Most work focuses on the role of animal morphology per se, and its interactions with the background in affecting detection and recognition. However, the behaviour of organisms is likely to be crucial in affecting camouflage too, through background choice, body orientation and positioning; and strategies of camouflage that require movement. A wealth of potential mechanisms may affect such behaviours, from imprinting and self-assessment to genetics, and operate at several levels (species, morph, and individual). Over many years there have been numerous studies investigating the role of behaviour in camouflage, but to date, no effort to synthesise these studies and ideas into a coherent framework. Here, we review key work on behaviour and camouflage, highlight the mechanisms involved and implications of behaviour, discuss the importance of this in a changing world, and offer suggestions for addressing the many important gaps in our understanding of this subject.

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Section: Background Choicementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Background Choicementioning

confidence: 99%

The key role of behaviour in animal camouflage

2018

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“…For example, C. galbinifrons also has a single transverse hinge across the middle of its plastron that allows complete retraction and protection of its extremities from predators (Pritchard 2008), and the color and pattern of the species' carapace is similar to that of deciduous leaves, which may function to reduce predator detection via camouflage (Fig. 1C;Stevens and Merilaita 2009;Xiao et al 2016). Moreover, the smooth marginal scutes of C.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecomorphological correlates of microhabitat selection in two sympatric Asian Box Turtle species (Geoemydidae: Cuora)

et al. 2017

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Closely related species that co-occur in homogeneous environments often possess differing morphologies, which can result in niche divergence that minimizes interspecific competition. In the present study, we examined the relationship between ecomorphological characteristics and microhabitat selection of two Asian box turtle species, the Keeled Box Turtle (Cuora mouhotii (Gray, 1862)) and the Indochinese Box Turtle (Cuora galbinifrons Bourret, 1940), that have sympatric distributions in the rainforest of Hainan, People’s Republic of China. We found that C. mouhotii had a relatively flat shell and preferred microhabitats with rock crevices and steep slopes in the field, whereas C. galbinifrons had a domed shell and was restricted to microhabitats of deciduous leaves under bamboo growing on gentle slopes. We conclude that morphological divergence allows the two Cuora spp. to use different microhabitats and, thereby, to successfully co-occur.

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“…Colour and shape are key elements of masquerade, for example body colour and shape of the leaf butterfly resembles dead leaves (Wallace, 1867). Quantitative colour-matching technology is sufficiently mature to measure these elements in background matching studies (CIE, 1986;Troscianko et al, 2015;Xiao et al, 2016;van den Berg et al, 2019). Some studies have attempted to quantify the pattern shape similarity between animals (Lee et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying shape similarity between prey and uninteresting models to study animal masquerade

Xiao

Shi

2020

Behav.

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Masquerade occurs when an organism resembles an inedible or uninteresting object (model), such as a leaf, stick, or stone. The shapes of many species are described as similar to those of models in their microhabitats, but these similarities have not been quantified effectively. To describe the shape similarity between an animal and a model, we applied a shape description method in a field study of the four-eyed turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata). Our results showed that shape similarity between turtles and stones in the Hezonggou River was significantly higher midstream than that upstream and downstream. In line with these findings, masquerade efficiency was highest for turtles in the midstream area, with both inexperienced and experienced human ‘predators’. Masquerade efficiency was positively correlated with shape similarity in all stream sections. Shape similarity ranged from 0 to 1, with <0.65 indicating low masquerade efficiency and >0.80 indicating high masquerade efficiency. Our quantitative method was able to provide data that could be used to form an ecologically plausible argument; thus, shape similarity can be used to assess animal’s masquerade efficiency. This method will be of considerable use in future animal masquerade research.

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Background matching and camouflage efficiency predict population density in four-eyed turtle ( Sacalia quadriocellata )

Cited by 17 publications

References 43 publications

The key role of behaviour in animal camouflage

The key role of behaviour in animal camouflage

Ecomorphological correlates of microhabitat selection in two sympatric Asian Box Turtle species (Geoemydidae: Cuora)

Quantifying shape similarity between prey and uninteresting models to study animal masquerade

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