| Empirical tests of the role of disruptive coloration in reducing detectability. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 17360282 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Disruptive patterning is a potentially universal camouflage technique that is thought to enhance concealment by rendering the detection of body shapes more difficult. In a recent series of field experiments, artificial moths with markings that extended to the edges of their 'wings' survived at higher rates than moths with the same edge patterns inwardly displaced. While this result seemingly indicates a benefit to obscuring edges, it is possible that the higher density markings of the inwardly displaced patterns concomitantly reduced their extent of background matching. Likewise, it has been suggested that the mealworm baits placed on the artificial moths could have created differential contrasts with different moth patterns. To address these concerns, we conducted controlled trials in which human subjects searched for computer-generated moth images presented against images of oak trees. Moths with edge-extended disruptive markings survived at higher rates, and took longer to find, than all other moth types, whether presented sequentially or simultaneously. However, moths with no edge markings and reduced interior pattern density survived better than their high-density counterparts, indicating that background matching may have played a so-far unrecognized role in the earlier experiments. Our disruptively patterned non-background-matching moths also had the lowest overall survivorship, indicating that disruptive coloration alone may not provide significant protection from predators. Collectively, our results provide independent support for the survival value of disruptive markings and demonstrate that there are common features in human and avian perception of camouflage. |
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Authors:
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Stewart Fraser; Alison Callahan; Dana Klassen; Thomas N Sherratt |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society Volume: 274 ISSN: 0962-8452 ISO Abbreviation: Proc. Biol. Sci. Publication Date: 2007 May |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2007-03-30 Completed Date: 2007-06-21 Revised Date: 2010-09-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101245157 Medline TA: Proc Biol Sci Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 1325-31 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada. |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Environment Humans Moths Pattern Recognition, Visual* Pigmentation* Predatory Behavior* |
| Comments/Corrections | |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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