Scared by shiny? The value of iridescence in aposematic signalling of the hibiscus harlequin bug

Fabricant, Scott A.; Exnerová, Alice; Ježová, Dana; Štys, Pavel

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.01.021

Cited by 31 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…; Gamberale‐Stille & Guilford ; Aronsson & Gamberale‐Stille ) and two experiments have specifically demonstrated that avian predators can learn to avoid blue prey in a warning signal context (Fabricant et al. ; Pegram & Rutowski ). Also, fish (Miller & Pawlik ) and great tits ( Parus major ; Fabricant et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Warning Signal Efficacy: Assessing the Effects of Color, Iridescence, and Time of Day in the Field

2015

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Warning coloration deters predators from attacking distasteful or toxic prey. Signal features that influence warning color effectiveness are not well understood, and in particular, we know very little about how effective short-wavelength and iridescent colors are as warning color elements in nature and how warning signal effectiveness changes throughout the day. We tested the effect of these factors on predation risk in nature using specimens of the distasteful pipevine swallowtail butterfly, Battus philenor. B. philenor adults display both iridescent blue and diffusely reflecting orange components in their warning signal. We painted B. philenor wings to create five different model types: all-black, only-iridescent-blue, onlyorange, iridescent-blue-and-orange (intact signal), and matte-blue-andorange. We placed 25 models in each of 14 replicate field sites for 72 h and checked for attacks three times each day. Model type affected the likelihood of attack; only-orange models were, the only model attacked significantly less than the all-black model. Iridescence did not enhance or decrease warning signal effectiveness in our experiment because matteblue-and-orange models were attacked at the same rate as iridescentblue-and-orange models. Time of day did not differentially affect model type. Video recordings of attacks revealed that insectivorous birds were responsible. The results of this experiment, when taken with previous work, indicate that the response to blue warning coloration is likely dependent on predator experience and context, but that iridescence per se does not affect warning signals in a natural context.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Warning Signal Efficacy: Assessing the Effects of Color, Iridescence, and Time of Day in the Field

2015

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“…[ 33,[36][37][38] In fl owers, structural color is hypothesized to function in relation to attracting potential pollinators. [ 20 ] However, in organisms such as algae the function of structural color remains unclear.…”

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confidence: 99%

Structural Color in Marine Algae

Chandler

Wilts

Brodie

et al. 2016

Advanced Optical Materials

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mate attraction [ 35 ] and predator deterrents. [ 33,[36][37][38] In fl owers, structural color is hypothesized to function in relation to attracting potential pollinators. [ 20 ] However, in organisms such as algae the function of structural color remains unclear.Marine macroalgae (red, brown and green seaweeds) represent a large, diverse group of organisms within the marine kingdom. To date, around 11,000 species of marine algae have been described, however it is suggested that around 10,000 species are still undescribed (Mike Guiry pers. comm.; see further in ref. [ 39 ] ). Red (Rhodophyta) and green (Chlorophyta) algae originated from the primary endosymbiosis of cyanobacteria around 1500 Mya. [ 40 ] In comparison, the divergence of the brown algae (Phaeophyceae), as a consequence of secondary endosymbiosis, occurred relatively recently, at around 200 Mya ( Figure 1 ). [ 41 ] Marine algae play a major role in the functionality of coastal ecosystems, [ 42 ] provide a signifi cant contribution towards global carbon fi xation, [ 43 ] contribute to stable food sources, [ 44 ] and are employed in various health [ 45 ] and medicinal [ 46 ] products. Considering the global importance of marine algae and the current declines that many populations face as a result of environmental degradation, [47][48][49] understanding their structural color may reveal adaptation strategies useful in relation to global environmental change. For example, similarly to leaves, [ 50,51 ] structural color in algae may serve to protect species from ultraviolet radiation which may be benefi cial considering continual ozone damage. Assuming this hypothesis, structural color may be useful in predicting marine species composition in the future.Despite the lack of understanding on the biological purpose of structural color, marine algae have received very little attention within this fi eld, most likely as their colors do not function for a communicative purpose. [ 32 ] Subsequently, only a few studies have attempted to work on and identify the mechanisms responsible for producing structural color and they have mainly focused on the red algae (Rhodophyta), where intracellular [ 52 ] and extracellular [ 29 ] structures have been observed. For example, in the red alga, Chondrus crispus Stackhouse [ 53 ] (Rhodophyta), it has been shown that structural color is produced by a multilayered structure in the cuticle with refractive-index periodicity. [ 29 ] Furthermore, virtually no studies have attempted to investigate the vivid and diverse array of structural color patterns found within the brown algae (Phaeophyceae). It has been suggested that intracellular quasi-ordered spherical inclusions in the epidermal cells termed 'iridescent bodies' are responsible for the observed structural color, [ 54 ] however there is no clear experimental evidence that correlates these bodies with the optical appearance.In this progress report, we describe the mechanisms of color production in marine algae and compare them to those Structural coloration is widespread ...

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“…Lett. 11: 20150159 coloration, and may explain why interference colours are so widespread [15,16,[19][20][21][22][23]. Because the accuracy of preydirected pecks, but not the latency to peck, was significantly reduced when attacking treatment prey items, it is likely that perceived changes in colour or brightness caused by the movement of animals with interference coloration hinders a predator's ability to pinpoint the prey's exact location in an attempted strike [18], rather than startling them through sudden chromatic or achromatic changes [17,29].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, animals with interference colours that contrast sharply with the background would seem poorly adapted for crypsis, leading to the suggestion that such colours may function as an aposematic signal [15,16] or as an active anti-predator mechanism [17,18]. In particular, interference colours can produce bright flashes of colour or sudden changes in brightness that might briefly startle a potential predator and thereby increase the prey's probability of escape [17], or because movement-induced changes in colour or brightness may hinder a predator's ability to pinpoint the prey's exact location in an attempted strike [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interference coloration as an anti-predator defence

Pike

2015

Biol. Lett.

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Interference coloration, in which the perceived colour varies predictably with the angle of illumination or observation, is extremely widespread across animal groups. However, despite considerable advances in our understanding of the mechanistic basis of interference coloration in animals, we still have a poor understanding of its function. Here, I show, using avian predators hunting dynamic virtual prey, that the presence of interference coloration can significantly reduce a predator's attack success. Predators required more pecks to successfully catch interference-coloured prey compared with otherwise identical prey items that lacked interference coloration, and attacks against prey with interference colours were less accurate, suggesting that changes in colour or brightness caused by prey movement hindered a predator's ability to pinpoint their exact location. The pronounced antipredator benefits of interference coloration may explain why it has evolved independently so many times.

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Scared by shiny? The value of iridescence in aposematic signalling of the hibiscus harlequin bug

Cited by 31 publications

References 73 publications

Warning Signal Efficacy: Assessing the Effects of Color, Iridescence, and Time of Day in the Field

Warning Signal Efficacy: Assessing the Effects of Color, Iridescence, and Time of Day in the Field

Structural Color in Marine Algae

Interference coloration as an anti-predator defence

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