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Prey pattern regularity and background complexity affect detectability of background-matching prey

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  • Marina Dimitrova
  • Sami Merilaita

Abstract

We investigated how regularity of prey color pattern affects crypsis and how visual complexity of the background affects prey detection. We performed 2 predation experiments with artificial prey and backgrounds, using blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) as predators. In experiment 1, we found that contrary to a previous hypothesis, a pattern with repeated background-matching pattern element shapes was not easier to detect than a pattern with variable background-matching shapes. Increased background complexity with respect to shape diversity and complexity made prey detection more difficult. In experiment 2, we tested how spatial regularity of background-matching pattern elements affects crypsis. We found that spatially irregular prey with randomly placed pattern elements were harder to detect on both simple and complex backgrounds compared with spatially regular prey that had the elements aligned. Increased background element shape complexity made both prey categories harder to detect. In conclusion, our study shows that spatial regularity of prey pattern but not regularity due to invariable pattern element shapes deteriorates crypsis. Visually complex backgrounds and specifically those consisting of elements with complex shapes make detection of cryptic prey difficult.

Suggested Citation

  • Marina Dimitrova & Sami Merilaita, 2012. "Prey pattern regularity and background complexity affect detectability of background-matching prey," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 23(2), pages 384-390.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:beheco:v:23:y:2012:i:2:p:384-390.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/arr201
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sami Merilaita & Johan Lind, 2006. "Great tits (Parus major) searching for artificial prey: implications for cryptic coloration and symmetry," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 17(1), pages 84-87, January.
    2. Alasdair I. Houston & Martin Stevens & Innes C. Cuthill, 2007. "Animal camouflage: compromise or specialize in a 2 patch-type environment?," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 18(4), pages 769-775.
    3. Anders Forsman & Joakim Herrström, 2004. "Asymmetry in size, shape, and color impairs the protective value of conspicuous color patterns," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 15(1), pages 141-147, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Joanna R Hall & Roland Baddeley & Nicholas E Scott-Samuel & Adam J Shohet & Innes C Cuthill, 2017. "Camouflaging moving objects: crypsis and masquerade," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 28(5), pages 1248-1255.
    2. Changku Kang & Martin Stevens & Jong-yeol Moon & Sang-Im Lee & Piotr G. Jablonski, 2015. "Camouflage through behavior in moths: the role of background matching and disruptive coloration," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 26(1), pages 45-54.
    3. Melia G. Nafus & Jennifer M. Germano & Jeanette A. Perry & Brian D. Todd & Allyson Walsh & Ronald R. Swaisgood, 2015. "Hiding in plain sight: a study on camouflage and habitat selection in a slow-moving desert herbivore," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 26(5), pages 1389-1394.
    4. Ossi Nokelainen & Sanni A. Silvasti & Sharon Y. Strauss & Niklas Wahlberg & Johanna Mappes, 2024. "Predator selection on phenotypic variability of cryptic and aposematic moths," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

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