Scaffolding and Mimicry: A Semiotic View of the Evolutionary Dynamics of Mimicry Systems

Maran, Timo

doi:10.1007/s12304-014-9223-y

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 38 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…A semiotic scaffold is a platform on which one or more semiotic systems operate. Semiotic scaffolding may be "a succession of stages of evolution, development or sign process in which the previous stages form the conditions for the subsequent stages" [34] (p. 213). Semiotic systems can change either independent of scaffolds or as a result of changes in the scaffold [35].…”

Section: Cognitive Disparity In Constructed Past Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Discerning Meaning and Producing Information: Semiosis in Knowing the Past

Thibodeau

2021

Information

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article explores how the meaning of information related to things, people, events, and processes in the past is discerned and interpreted to satisfy some current purpose. Starting from the premise that Information about the Past results from a cognitive construction, it considers factors that affect the probability of success in producing Information about the Past. The article analyzes the process, components, and products of learning about the past, building on Constructed Past Theory and applying concepts from semiotics. It identifies characteristic ways in which things in the past are misinterpreted.

show abstract

Section: Cognitive Disparity In Constructed Past Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Discerning Meaning and Producing Information: Semiosis in Knowing the Past

Thibodeau

2021

Information

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In ecology, mimicry refers to a convergent adaptive trait prevalent in many biological communities: the deceptive resemblance of one organism to another ( Pasteur, 1982 ; Schaefer & Ruxton, 2009 ; Maran, 2015 ). It involves three categories of interacting ecological players: mimic (organism displaying the deceptive resemblance), model (organism being mimicked), and receiver (organism being deceived) ( Pasteur, 1982 ; Maran, 2015 ). Mimicry occurs across a wide variety of ecological contexts and sensory modalities, but conceptually ( Jamie, 2017 ), individual cases can be categorized by the traits being mimicked (signals or cues), as well as by the degree of deceptiveness (aggressive, rewarding, Müllerian or Batesian mimicry).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polymorphism in the aggressive mimicry lure of the parasitic freshwater mussel Lampsilis fasciola

Hewitt,

Johnson,

Buntin

et al. 2024

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Unionoid freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) are free-living apart from a brief, obligately parasitic, larval stage that infects fish hosts, and gravid female mussels have evolved a spectrum of strategies to infect fish hosts with their larvae. In many North American species, this involves displaying a mantle lure: a pigmented fleshy extension that acts as an aggressive mimic of a host fish prey, thereby eliciting a feeding response that results in host infection. The mantle lure of Lampsilis fasciola is of particular interest because it is apparently polymorphic, with two distinct primary lure phenotypes. One, described as “darter-like”, has “eyespots”, a mottled body coloration, prominent marginal extensions, and a distinct “tail”. The other, described as “worm-like”, lacks those features and has an orange and black coloration. We investigated this phenomenon using genomics, captive rearing, biogeographic, and behavioral analyses. Within-brood lure variation and within-population phylogenomic (ddRAD-seq) analyses of individuals bearing different lures confirmed that this phenomenon is a true polymorphism. The relative abundance of the two morphs appears stable over ecological timeframes: the ratio of the two lure phenotypes in a River Raisin (MI) population in 2017 was consistent with that of museum samples collected at the same site six decades earlier. Within the River Raisin, four main “darter-like” lure motifs visually approximated four co-occurring darter species (Etheostoma blennioides, E. exile, E. microperca, and Percina maculata), and the “worm-like” lure resembled a widespread common leech, Macrobdella decora. Darters and leeches are typical prey of Micropterus dolomieui (smallmouth bass), the primary fish host of L. fasciola. In situ field recordings of the L. fasciola “darter” and “leech” lure display behaviors, and the lure display of co-occurring congener L. cardium, were captured. Despite having putative models in distinct phyla, both L. fasciola lure morphs have largely similar display behaviors that differ significantly from that of sympatric L. cardium individuals. Some minor differences in the behavior between the two L. fasciola morphs were observed, but we found no clear evidence for a behavioral component of the polymorphism given the criteria measured. Discovery of discrete within-brood inheritance of the lure polymorphism implies potential control by a single genetic locus and identifies L. fasciola as a promising study system to identify regulatory genes controlling a key adaptive trait of freshwater mussels.

show abstract

“…In ecology, mimicry refers to a convergent adaptive trait prevalent in many biological communities: the deceptive resemblance of one organism to another (Pasteur, 1982; Schaefer & Ruxton, 2009; Maran, 2015). It involves three categories of interacting ecological players: mimic (organism displaying the deceptive resemblance), model (organism being mimicked), and receiver (organism being deceived) (Pasteur, 1982; Maran, 2015). Mimicry occurs across a wide variety of ecological contexts and sensory modalities, but conceptually (Jamie, 2017), individual cases can be categorized by the traits being mimicked (signals or cues), as well as by the degree of deceptiveness and the fitness consequences being communicated to the receiver (aggressive, rewarding, Müllerian or Batesian mimicry).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aggressive mimicry lure polymorphisms in the parasitic musselLampsilis fasciolamodel fish or leech host prey and differ in morphology and pigmentation, but not in display behavior

Hewitt,

Johnson,

Buntin

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Unionoid freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) are free-living apart from a brief, obligately parasitic, larval stage that infects fish hosts and gravid female mussels have evolved a spectrum of strategies to infect fish hosts with their larvae. In many North American species, this involves displaying a mantle lure: a pigmented fleshy extension that acts as an aggressive mimic of a host fish prey, thereby eliciting a feeding response that results in host infection. The mantle lure ofLampsilis fasciolais of particular interest because it is apparently polymorphic, with two distinct primary lure phenotypes. One, described as “darter-like”, has “eyespots”, a mottled body coloration, prominent marginal extensions, and a distinct “tail”. The other, described as “worm-like”, lacks those features and has an orange and black coloration. We investigated this phenomenon to 1) confirm that it is a true polymorphism; 2) investigate its ecological persistence; 3) identify the range of putative model species targeted by this mimicry system within a river drainage; 4) determine whether the mantle lure polymorphism includes a behavioral component. Detection of within-brood lure variation and within-population phylogenomic (ddRAD-seq) analyses of individuals bearing different lures confirmed that this phenomenon is a true polymorphism. It appears stable over ecological timeframes: the ratio of the two lure phenotypes in a River Raisin (MI) population in 2017 was consistent with that of museum samples collected at the same site 6 decades earlier. Within the River Raisin, four main “darter-like” lure motifs visually approximated four co-occurring darter species (Etheostoma blennioides, E. exile, E. microperca,andPercina maculata) and the “worm-like” lure resembled a widespread common leech,Macrobdella decora. Darters and leeches are typical prey ofMicropterus dolomieui(smallmouth bass), the primary fish host ofL. fasciola.In situfield recordings were made of theL. fasciola“darter” and “leech” lure display behaviors, in addition to the non-polymorphic lure display of co-occurringL. cardium. Despite having putative models in distinct phyla, bothL. fasciolalure morphs have similar display behaviors that differ significantly from that of sympatricL. cardiumindividuals. We conclude that theL. fasciolamantle lure polymorphism does not include a behavioral component. Discovery of discrete within-brood inheritance of the lure polymorphism implies potential control by a single genetic locus and identifiesL. fasciolaas a promising study system to identify regulatory genes controlling a key adaptive trait of freshwater mussels.

show abstract

Scaffolding and Mimicry: A Semiotic View of the Evolutionary Dynamics of Mimicry Systems

Cited by 9 publications

References 38 publications

Discerning Meaning and Producing Information: Semiosis in Knowing the Past

Discerning Meaning and Producing Information: Semiosis in Knowing the Past

Polymorphism in the aggressive mimicry lure of the parasitic freshwater mussel Lampsilis fasciola

Aggressive mimicry lure polymorphisms in the parasitic musselLampsilis fasciolamodel fish or leech host prey and differ in morphology and pigmentation, but not in display behavior

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About