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The evolution of warning signals

Author

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  • Shigeo Yachi

    (Laboratoire d'Ecologie, UMR 7625, Ecole Normale Supérieure)

  • Masahiko Higashi

    (Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University)

Abstract

Warning coloration signals are a familiar and conspicuous phenomenon in nature. However, the fundamental question of how warning signals initially evolved remains unanswered. For an unpalatable prey to evolve a signal to indicate its unprofitability, a rare and conspicuous mutant in a population of unpalatable cryptic prey must overcome a double disadvantage: a greater risk of being detected (as a result of being more conspicuous) and of being attacked (because its rarity results in a decreased association with aversion) by a predator1,2. Although the prior evolution of prey gregariousness may help warning signals to evolve3,4,5,6,7,8, such an evolutionary order may not always be the case4,9,10,11. Here we present a theoretical model that describes a mechanism for the evolution of warning signals without having to invoke gregariousness. Specifically, a predator's generalization of stimulus in associative learning, with a ‘peak shift’ towards greater conspicuousness5,12,13,14,15, allows a warning signal to evolve when the prey population density exceeds a threshold. Once a warning signal starts to evolve, it continues to grow; the resulting, evolutionarily stable16 conspicuousness of prey is discontinuously greater than that of the original cryptic prey, drawing an unambiguous distinction in their appearance.

Suggested Citation

  • Shigeo Yachi & Masahiko Higashi, 1998. "The evolution of warning signals," Nature, Nature, vol. 394(6696), pages 882-884, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:394:y:1998:i:6696:d:10.1038_29751
    DOI: 10.1038/29751
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