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Odor alters color preference in a foraging jumping spider

Author

Listed:
  • Michael E Vickers
  • Lisa A Taylor

Abstract

In many prey taxa with aposematic coloration, prey defenses also involve signals in other modalities (odors, sounds, etc.), yet the selective forces that have driven multimodality in warning displays are not well understood. One potential hypothesis that has recently received support in the avian literature (but has yet to be examined in invertebrates) is that different signal components may interact synergistically, such that one component of a signal (odor) may trigger a predator’s aversion to another component of a signal (color). Here, we gave jumping spiders (Habronattus trimaculatus) the choice between red or black prey (artificially colored termites) in either the presence or absence of odor from the chemically defended coreid bug (Acanthocephala femorata). When the odor was present, spiders were more likely to avoid the color red compared with when the odor was absent. Interestingly, this pattern only held up when the odor was novel; subsequent exposure to the odor had no effect on color preference. Moreover, this pattern only held for the color red (a color typically used as a warning color and often paired with odor). We replicated this experiment giving spiders the choice between green or black prey, and found that the presence of the odor had no effect on the spiders’ responses to the color green. We discuss these findings in the context of predator psychology and the evolution of prey coloration.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael E Vickers & Lisa A Taylor, 2018. "Odor alters color preference in a foraging jumping spider," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 29(4), pages 833-839.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:beheco:v:29:y:2018:i:4:p:833-839.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/ary068
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lisa A. Taylor & Kevin J. McGraw, 2013. "Male ornamental coloration improves courtship success in a jumping spider, but only in the sun," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 24(4), pages 955-967.
    2. Emma C. Siddall & Nicola M. Marples, 2008. "Better to be bimodal: the interaction of color and odor on learning and memory," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 19(2), pages 425-432.
    3. Lisa A. Taylor & Zarreen Amin & Emily B. Maier & Kevin J. Byrne & Nathan I. Morehouse, 2016. "Flexible color learning in an invertebrate predator: Habronattus jumping spiders can learn to prefer or avoid red during foraging," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 27(2), pages 520-529.
    4. John Skelhorn & Christina G. Halpin & Candy Rowe, 2016. "Learning about aposematic prey," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 27(4), pages 955-964.
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