Article: Contrast to background influences predation on aposematic but not cryptic artificial caterpillars in a Brazilian coastal shrubland
Journal of tropical ecology. 2020 May, v. 36, no. 3
2020
Abstract: Aposematism and crypticity are visual defensive strategies against predation; however, the relative effectiveness of these two strategies to reduce the risk of predation is not yet fully understood. We evaluated the risk of predation for caterpillars ... ...
Abstract | Aposematism and crypticity are visual defensive strategies against predation; however, the relative effectiveness of these two strategies to reduce the risk of predation is not yet fully understood. We evaluated the risk of predation for caterpillars with cryptic and aposematic colouration as well as the probability of predation relative to the natural variation of contrast with the substrate. We expected that the two models would experience similar predation attempts and that the contrast with the substrate would be negatively related to the predation on aposematic mimic models and positively to the predation of cryptic models. Overall, 224 models were laid out along a transect and exposed to predation for five consecutive days during winter and autumn. Daily predation was 11.0% (winter) and 4.8% (autumn). Significant differences were not observed between predation rates on the two model types (50.6% aposematic). Most of the predated models had arthropod marks (86.4%) and only 13.6% had bird marks. The chance of predation was higher the greater the contrast between the aposematic mimic model and the substrate, although no relationship was observed for the cryptic model. Our results suggest that the two colour patterns do not differ in their defensive effectiveness and that micro-habitat selection might define the predation risk on aposematic mimic caterpillars in environments dominated by arthropod predators. |
---|---|
Keywords | arthropods ; autumn ; birds ; color ; microhabitats ; mimicry (behavior) ; models ; predation ; risk ; risk reduction ; shrublands ; winter |
Language | English |
Dates of publication | 2020-05 |
Size | p. 109-114. |
Publishing place | Cambridge University Press |
Document type | Article |
Note | NAL-AP-2-clean |
ZDB-ID | 395518-7 |
ISSN | 1469-7831 ; 0266-4674 |
ISSN (online) | 1469-7831 |
ISSN | 0266-4674 |
DOI | 10.1017/S026646742000005X |
Database | NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA) |
Full text online
More links
Kategorien
In stock of ZB MED Bonn / Germany
Z 4987: Show issues |
Order via subito
This service is chargeable due to the Delivery terms set by subito. Orders including an article and supplementary material will be classified as separate orders. In these cases, fees will be demanded for each order.
Inter-library loan at ZB MED
Your chosen title can be delivered directly to ZB MED Cologne location if you are registered as a user at ZB MED Cologne.