Does colour polymorphism enhance survival of prey populations?

Wennersten, Lena; Forsman, Anders

doi:10.1098/rspb.2009.0252

Cited by 24 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…If more colour variants are introduced in a novel environment, the probability increases that at least one morph will be well protected against predators [36]. The coexistence of two or more colour variants may also reduce predator efficiency and increase survival in polymorphic prey populations [37,38]. We therefore propose that the superior establishment success of more variable founder groups is driven at least in part by a lower rate of predator-induced mortality in more colour-morph-diverse founder groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Variation in founder groups promotes establishment success in the wild

et al. 2012

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Environmental changes currently pose severe threats to biodiversity, and reintroductions and translocations are increasingly used to protect declining populations and species from extinction. Theory predicts that establishment success should be higher for more variable groups of dissimilar individuals. To test this 'diversity promotes establishment' hypothesis, we introduced colour polymorphic pygmy grasshoppers (Tetrix subulata) to different sites in the wild. The number of descendants found at the release sites the subsequent year increased with increasing number of colour morphs in the founder group, and variation in founder groups also positively affected colour morph diversity in the established populations. Since colour morphs differ in morphology, physiology, behaviour, reproductive life history and types of niche used, these findings demonstrate that variation among individuals in functionally important traits promotes establishment success under natural conditions, and further indicate that founder diversity may contribute to evolutionary rescue and increased population persistence.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Variation in founder groups promotes establishment success in the wild

et al. 2012

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“…The benefits of color polymorphism are not mediated only by broader niches, because there is experimental evidence that color polymorphism can protect populations of camouflaged prey against visual predators (Karpestam et al. , ; but see Wennersten and Forsman ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variable color patterns influence continental range size and species–area relationships on islands

2019

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Citation: Franz en, M., A. Forsman, and P.-E. Betzholtz. 2019. Variable color patterns influence continental range size and species-area relationships on islands.Abstract. It has been hypothesized that species with more variable color patterns should have higher establishment success and be less sensitive to environmental changes and local extinction compared with species that do not vary in color. This difference in colonization/extinction balance should manifest as larger continental range distributions and modulate the species-area relationship on true islands. We evaluated these predictions using data for 1216 species of butterflies and moths that differed with regard to inter-individual variation in color pattern. We show that species with more variable color patterns have larger continental range sizes in Europe compared with non-variable species. We also provide rare evidence that the slope of the species-area relationship on islands is steeper for species having non-variable color patterns, suggesting that to preserve 60% of non-variable species would require an area twice as large compared to what would be needed to preserve 60% of variable species. Our findings suggest that combining information on ecological characteristics with presence/absence data from small and medium sized islands can help identify traits that drive species range patterns at the continental scale, and that individual variation in color pattern can be used as a proxy for ecological generalization and the ability to cope with environmental change.

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“…We carried out an experiment in November 2011 with 384 artificial fruits made of odorless edible clay (Wennersten and Forsman, 2009). We made 2-cm spherical fruits, dyed in either black, blue, green or red, with 96 fruits of each color.…”

Section: Fruit Color Preferencementioning

confidence: 99%

Fruit color preference by birds and applications to ecological restoration

2016

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Ecological restoration aims to retrieve not only the structure but also the functionality of ecosystems. Frugivorous birds may play an important role in this process due to their efficiency in seed dispersal. Color perception in these animals is highly developed, and then the colors of fleshy fruits may provide important clues for choosing plant species for restoration plans. This study aims to integrate bird color preferences and restoration of degraded areas, with an objective to evaluate the potential attractiveness to birds by colored fruits. We carried out an experiment with 384 artificial fruits made of edible modeling clay with the following colors: black, blue, green and red, with 96 fruits of each color in six sites, including four restored areas and two second-growth forest fragments. We also tested the possible effect of light intensity on fruit consumption by color. A total of 120 (38.6%) were assumed to be consumed by birds, and the fruit consumption varied in response to the location and light incidence. Consumption of black and blue fruits was not related to site by chance. Notwithstanding, red and black fruits were consumed significantly more than any other colors, emphasizing bird preference to these colors, regardless of location. Enrichment with shade tolerant shrubs or forest species with black or red fruits may be an alternative way to manage established restorations. In recently established or new restorations, one may introduce pioneer shrubs or short-lived forest species which have blue fruits, but also those having black or red ones.Keywords: artificial fruits, Atlantic Forest, frugivory, ecological succession, color perception. Preferência de cor de frutos por aves e aplicações à restauração ecológica ResumoA restauração ecológica tem a finalidade de recuperar não apenas a estrutura, mas também a funcionalidade dos ecossistemas, e as aves frugívoras podem desempenhar um papel importante neste processo devido à sua eficiência na dispersão de sementes. Como a percepção da cor nestes animais é altamente desenvolvida, a cor dos frutos carnosos pode ser uma característica importante na escolha de espécies de plantas para os reflorestamentos. Este estudo tem como foco integrar a preferência de cor de frutos por aves e a recuperação de áreas degradadas, objetivando determinar a atratividade potencial de aves por frutos de cores diferentes. Foi realizado um experimento com 384 frutos artificiais feitos com massa de modelar comestível nas cores preta, azul, verde e vermelha, com um total de 96 frutos em cada cor em seis locais, incluindo quatro áreas restauradas e dois fragmentos de floresta secundária. Também foi testado o possível efeito da intensidade de luz sobre o consumo de frutos conforme as cores. Um total de 120 (38,6%) frutos foi considerado consumido pelas aves, e o consumo variou em resposta aos locais e incidência de luz. O consumo de frutos pretos e azuis foi significativamente relacionado com o local. Os frutos vermelhos e pretos foram significativamente mais consumidos do...

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Does colour polymorphism enhance survival of prey populations?

Cited by 24 publications

References 34 publications

Variation in founder groups promotes establishment success in the wild

Variation in founder groups promotes establishment success in the wild

Variable color patterns influence continental range size and species–area relationships on islands

Fruit color preference by birds and applications to ecological restoration

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