| Evolution of cryptic coloration in ectoparasites. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 20722554 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
Cryptic coloration is a classic example of evolution by natural selection. However, it has been studied almost exclusively in predator-prey systems, despite the fact that it may evolve in other groups, such as ectoparasites. The principle defense of hosts against ectoparasites is grooming behavior, which has a visual component. Host-imposed selection should lead to the evolution of background matching if it helps ectoparasites escape from grooming. Here we use sister taxa comparisons to show that avian feather lice (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) have evolved coloration that matches the host's plumage, except in the case of head lice, which are protected from grooming. We also show covariation of parasite and host color within a single species of louse. Thus, cryptic coloration has evolved both within and between species of feather lice. Other examples of the evolution of crypsis presumably exist among the 70,000 known species of ectoparasites that collectively represent five animal phyla. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Sarah E Bush; Dukgun Kim; Michelle Reed; Dale H Clayton |
Related Documents
:
|
19757904 - The neural pathways mediating color shifts induced by temporally varying light. 20634554 - Evaluating color descriptors for object and scene recognition. 11237364 - Categorical and coordinate spatial processing: more on contributions of the transient/m... 3772634 - Analysis of human color mechanisms using sinusoidal spectral power distributions. 15753064 - The effects of periodic visual occlusion on ball catching. 19757904 - The neural pathways mediating color shifts induced by temporally varying light. |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: The American naturalist Volume: 176 ISSN: 1537-5323 ISO Abbreviation: Am. Nat. Publication Date: 2010 Oct |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2010-09-03 Completed Date: 2011-01-13 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 2984688R Medline TA: Am Nat Country: United States |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 529-35 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, 66045, USA. bush@biology.utah.edu |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Animals Biological Evolution* Birds / parasitology* Color* Feathers / parasitology Grooming* Host-Parasite Interactions* Ischnocera / anatomy & histology, genetics, physiology* Phthiraptera / anatomy & histology, genetics, physiology Selection, Genetic |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Identification of Bacteria in Paraffin-Embedded Tissues Using 16S rDNA Sequencing from a Neonate wit...
Next Document: Impact of amlodipine or ramipril treatment on left ventricular mass and carotid intima-media thickne...