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Colour morph predicts social behaviour and contest outcomes in a polymorphic lizard (Podarcis erhardii). Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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2
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Kemp DJ, Edwards W, White TE. Captivating color: evidence for optimal stimulus design in a polymorphic prey lure. Behav Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Many species – humans included – employ color as an instrument of deception. One intriguing example of this resides in the conspicuous abstract color patterns displayed on the bodies of female orb weaving spiders. These displays increase prey interception rates and thereby function at least as visual lures. Their chromatic properties however vary extensively, both across and within species, with discrete forms often co-existing in the manner of a stable polymorphism. Variation is principally expressed in terms of signal hue (color per se), but it is unclear how attractiveness scales with this property and if extant morphs are maximally attractive relative to a graded range of potential alternatives. We examined these questions by assessing catch rates among color-manipulated females of the dimorphic jeweled spider Gasteracantha fornicata in their natural webs. The manipulation altered dorsal appearance in a manner akin to adding six new variants of their existing white/yellow phenotypes. This magnified the natural variation in stimulus hue independently of chroma (saturation) across a range spanning most of the color spectrum. Catch rate varied across treatments in simple accordance with how greatly stimulus hue deviated from either of the two extant spider phenotypes. Predictions based on fly-perceived chromatic and achromatic background contrast were clearly unsupported despite dipterans constituting ~60 % of identifiable prey. This study supports the importance of signal coloration per se in G. fornicata and suggests that extant lure phenotypes reside in a broadly optimal spectral range for stimulating their aggregate prey community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darrell J Kemp
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Will Edwards
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Thomas E White
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Macharoenboon K, Siriwut W, Jeratthitikul E. A review of the taxonomy of spiny-backed orb-weaving spiders of the subfamily Gasteracanthinae (Araneae, Araneidae) in Thailand. Zookeys 2021; 1032:17-62. [PMID: 33958915 PMCID: PMC8065025 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1032.62001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spiny-backed orb-weaving spiders of the subfamily Gasteracanthinae are broadly distributed in the Old World. Despite their use as a model species in biology, evolution, and behavior because of their extraordinary characteristics, the systematics of this group of spiders are still poorly understood. This study elucidates the systematics of Gasteracanthinae in Thailand based on morphological and molecular-based analyses. In total, seven species from three genera, namely Gasteracantha, Macracantha, and Thelacantha, were recorded in Thailand. Shape of abdominal spines, pattern of sigilla, and female genitalia are significant characters for species identification. In contrast, coloration shows highly intraspecific variation in most species within Gasteracanthinae. A phylogenetic tree based on partial sequences of COI, 16S, and H3 genes recovered Gasteracanthinae as a monophyletic group and supports the existence of three clades. Gasteracantha hasselti is placed as a sister taxon to Macracantha arcuata. Hence, we propose to transfer G. hasselti to Macracantha. Moreover, molecular species delimitation analyses (ABGD, bPTP, and GMYC) using 675 bp of COI gene support all nominal species, with evidence of possible additional cryptic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kongkit Macharoenboon
- Animal Systematics and Molecular Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, ThailandAnimal Systematics and Molecular Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Warut Siriwut
- Animal Systematics and Molecular Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, ThailandAnimal Systematics and Molecular Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Ekgachai Jeratthitikul
- Animal Systematics and Molecular Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, ThailandAnimal Systematics and Molecular Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol UniversityBangkokThailand
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4
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Caro T, Koneru M. Towards an ecology of protective coloration. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 96:611-641. [PMID: 33258554 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The strategies underlying different forms of protective coloration are well understood but little attention has been paid to the ecological, life-history and behavioural circumstances under which they evolve. While some comparative studies have investigated the ecological correlates of aposematism, and background matching, the latter particularly in mammals, few have examined the ecological correlates of other types of protective coloration. Here, we first outline which types of defensive coloration strategies may be exhibited by the same individual; concluding that many protective coloration mechanisms can be employed simultaneously, particularly in conjunction with background matching. Second, we review the ecological predictions that have been made for each sort of protective coloration mechanism before systematically surveying phylogenetically controlled comparative studies linking ecological and social variables to antipredator defences that involve coloration. We find that some a priori predictions based on small-scale empirical studies and logical arguments are indeed supported by comparative data, especially in relation to how illumination affects both background matching and self-shadow concealment through countershading; how body size is associated with countershading, motion dazzle, flash coloration and aposematism, although only in selected taxa; how immobility may promote background matching in ambush predators; and how mobility may facilitate motion dazzle. Examination of nearly 120 comparative tests reveals that many focus on ecological variables that have little to do with predictions derived from antipredator defence theory, and that broad-scale ecological studies of defence strategies that incorporate phylogenetics are still very much in their infancy. We close by making recommendations for future evolutionary ecological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Caro
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, U.K.,Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, U.S.A
| | - Manisha Koneru
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, U.S.A
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Brock KM, Baeckens S, Donihue CM, Martín J, Pafilis P, Edwards DL. Trait differences among discrete morphs of a color polymorphic lizard, Podarcis erhardii. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10284. [PMID: 33194436 PMCID: PMC7649010 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Color polymorphism defies evolutionary expectations as striking phenotypic variation is maintained within a single species. Color and other traits mediate social interactions, and stable polymorphism within a population is hypothesized to be related to correlational selection of other phenotypic traits among color morphs. Here, we report on a previously unknown throat color polymorphism in the Aegean Wall Lizard (Podarcis erhardii) and examine morph-correlated differences in traits important to social behavior and communication: maximum bite force capacity and chemical signal profile. We find that both sexes of P. erhardii have three color morphs: orange, yellow, and white. Moreover, orange males are significantly larger and tend to bite harder than yellow and white males. Although the established color polymorphism only partially matches the observed intraspecific variation in chemical signal signatures, the chemical profile of the secretions of orange males is significantly divergent from that of white males. Our findings suggest that morph colors are related to differences in traits that are crucial for social interactions and competitive ability, illustrating the need to look beyond color when studying polymorphism evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinsey M Brock
- Department of Life & Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States of America.,Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Group, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States of America
| | - Simon Baeckens
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.,Department of Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Colin M Donihue
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
| | - José Martín
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Panayiotis Pafilis
- Department of Zoology and Marine Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens, Greece.,Zoological Museum, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Danielle L Edwards
- Department of Life & Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States of America
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7
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White TE. Jewelled spiders manipulate colour-lure geometry to deceive prey. Biol Lett 2017; 13:rsbl.2017.0027. [PMID: 28356411 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2017.0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Selection is expected to favour the evolution of efficacy in visual communication. This extends to deceptive systems, and predicts functional links between the structure of visual signals and their behavioural presentation. Work to date has primarily focused on colour, however, thereby understating the multicomponent nature of visual signals. Here I examined the relationship between signal structure, presentation behaviour, and efficacy in the context of colour-based prey luring. I used the polymorphic orb-web spider Gasteracantha fornicata, whose yellow- or white-and-black striped dorsal colours have been broadly implicated in prey attraction. In a manipulative assay, I found that spiders actively control the orientation of their conspicuous banded signals in the web, with a distinct preference for near-diagonal bearings. Further field-based study identified a predictive relationship between pattern orientation and prey interception rates, with a local maximum at the spiders' preferred orientation. There were no morph-specific effects on capture success, either singularly or via an interaction with pattern orientation. These results reveal a dynamic element in a traditionally 'static' signalling context, and imply differential functions for chromatic and geometric signal components across visual contexts. More broadly, they underscore how multicomponent signal designs and display behaviours may coevolve to enhance efficacy in visual deception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E White
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
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White TE, Kemp DJ. Colour polymorphic lures exploit innate preferences for spectral versus luminance cues in dipteran prey. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:191. [PMID: 28806928 PMCID: PMC5557064 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-1043-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Theory predicts that colour polymorphism may be favored by variation in the visual context under which signals are perceived. The context encompasses all environmental determinants of light availability and propagation, but also the dynamics of perception in receivers. Color vision involves the neural separation of information into spectral versus luminance channels, which often differentially guide specific tasks. Here we explicitly tested whether this discrete perceptual basis contributes to the maintenance of polymorphism in a prey-luring system. The orb-weaving spider Gasteracantha fornicata is known to attract a broad community of primarily dipteran prey due to their conspicuous banded dorsal signal. They occur in two morphs ("white" and "yellow") which should, respectively, generate greater luminance and color contrast in the dipteran eye. Given that arthropods often rely upon luminance-versus-spectral cues for relatively small-versus-large stimulus detection, we predicted a switch in relative attractiveness among morphs according to apparent spider size. RESULTS Our experimental tests used colour-naïve individuals of two known prey species (Drosophila hydei and Musca domestica) in replicate Y-maze choice trials designed to manipulate the apparent size of spider models via the distance at which they are viewed. Initial trials confirmed that flies were attracted to each G. fornicata morph in single presentations. When given a simultaneous choice between morphs against a viewing background typical of those encountered in nature, flies exhibited no preference regardless of the visual angle subtended by models. However, when backgrounds were adjusted to nearer the extremes of those of each morph in the wild, flies were more attracted by white morphs when presented at longer range (consistent with a reliance on achromatic cues), yet were unbiased in their close-range choice. CONCLUSION While not fully consistent with predictions (given the absence of a differential preference for stimuli at close range), our results demonstrate an effect of apparent stimulus size upon relative morph attractiveness in the direction anticipated from present knowledge of fly visual ecology. This implies the potential tuning of G. fornicata morph signal structure according to a perceptual feature that is likely common across their breadth of arthropod prey, and complements recent observational work in suggesting a candidate mechanism for the maintenance of deceptive polymorphism through the exploitation of different visual channels in prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E White
- Department of Biological Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia.
| | - Darrell J Kemp
- Department of Biological Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia
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9
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Ajuria-Ibarra H, Tapia-McClung H, Rao D. Mapping the variation in spider body colouration from an insect perspective. Evol Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-017-9904-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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10
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White TE, Dalrymple RL, Herberstein ME, Kemp DJ. The perceptual similarity of orb-spider prey lures and flower colours. Evol Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-016-9876-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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White TE, Kemp DJ. Color polymorphic lures target different visual channels in prey. Evolution 2016; 70:1398-408. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.12948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Revised: 04/09/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E. White
- Department of Biological Science Macquarie University North Ryde 2109 Australia
| | - Darrell J. Kemp
- Department of Biological Science Macquarie University North Ryde 2109 Australia
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12
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Nakata K, Shigemiya Y. Body-colour variation in an orb-web spider and its effect on predation success. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kensuke Nakata
- Tokyo Keizai University; Minami-cho, 1-7-34 Kokubunji Tokyo 185-8502 Japan
- Kyoto Women's University; Kitahiyoshi-cho 35 Higashiyama-ku Kyoto 605-8501 Japan
| | - Yusuke Shigemiya
- Faculty of Environment and Architecture; Nagasaki Institute for Applied Science; Abamachi 536 Nagasaki 851-0193 Japan
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14
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Ajuria Ibarra H, Reader T. Female-limited colour polymorphism in the crab spiderSynema globosum(Araneae: Thomisidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Helena Ajuria Ibarra
- School of Life Sciences; University Park; University of Nottingham; Nottingham NG7 2RD UK
| | - Tom Reader
- School of Life Sciences; University Park; University of Nottingham; Nottingham NG7 2RD UK
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