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260 results for “Camouflage”
Data from: Optimizing countershading camouflage
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Data from: Evaluating the roles of signaling and camouflage in the evolution of iris color in <em>Tyranni</em> passerines
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Data from: Camouflage in motion: Testing for background choice in a stalking predator (lionfish, <em>Pterois miles</em>)
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Data from: Passive debris cloaking in beetles provides non-visual camouflage against predatory ants
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Data from: Camouflage using surface disruption: the importance of corners versus edges
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Fitness and fur colouration - testing the camouflage and thermoregulation hypotheses in an Arctic mammal
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EEG responses to camouflage objects
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Data and code for: Plumage balances camouflage and thermoregulation in Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris)
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Data from: Countershading enhances camouflage by reducing prey contrast
<p>A 3D body shape is problematic for camouflage because overhead lighting produces a luminance gradient across the body's surface. Countershading, a form of patterning where animals are darkest on their uppermost surface, is thought to counteract this luminance gradient and enhance concealment, but the mechanisms of protection remain unclear. Surprisingly, no study has examined how countershading alters prey contrast, or investigated how the presence of a dorso-ventral luminance gradient affects detection under controlled viewing conditions. It has also been suggested that the direction of the dorso-ventral luminance gradient (darkest or lightest on top) may interfere with predators' abilities to resolve prey 3D shape, yet this intriguing idea has never been tested. We used live fish predators (western rainbowfish, <i>Melanotaenia australis</i>) and computer-generated prey images to compare the detectability of uniformly pigmented (i.e. non-countershaded) prey with that of optimally countershaded prey of varying contrasts against the background. Optimally countershaded prey were difficult for predators to detect, and the probability and speed of detection depended on prey luminance contrast with the background. In comparison, non-countershaded prey were always highly detectable, even though their average luminance closely matched the luminance of the background. Our findings suggest that uniformly pigmented 3D prey are highly conspicuous to predators, because overhead lighting increases luminance contrast between different body parts or between the body and the background. We found no evidence for the notion that countershading interferes with predator perception of 3D form.</p>
Thistle-down velvet ants in the Desert Mimicry Ring and the evolution of white coloration: Müllerian mimicry, camouflage, and thermal ecology
Adaptive coloration among animals is one of the most recognizable outcomes of natural selection. Here we investigate evolutionary drivers of white coloration in velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), which has previously been considered camouflage with the fruit of creosote bush. Our analyses indicate instead that velvet ants evolved white coloration millions of years before creosote bush was widespread in North America's hot deserts. Furthermore, velvet ants and the creosote fruit exhibit different spectral reflectance patterns, which appear distinct to potential insectivorous predators. While the white coloration in velvet ants likely did not evolve as camouflage, we find that white-colored species remain cooler than their red/orange relatives, and therefore we infer the white coloration likely evolved in response to Neogene desertification. This study shows the importance of cross-disciplinary investigation and the importance of testing multiple hypotheses when investigating evolutionary drivers of adaptive coloration.
The origin and spread of locally adaptive seasonal camouflage in snowshoe hares
<p>Adaptation is central to population persistence in the face of environmental change, yet we seldom precisely understand the origin and spread of adaptive variation in natural populations. Snowshoe hares (<i>Lepus americanus</i>) along the Pacific Northwest (PNW) coast have evolved brown winter camouflage through positive selection on recessive variation at the <i>Agouti</i> pigmentation gene introgressed from black-tailed jackrabbits (<i>L. californicus</i>). Here we combine new and published whole genome and exome sequences with targeted genotyping of <i>Agouti </i>in order<i> </i>to investigate the evolutionary history of local seasonal camouflage adaptation in the PNW. We find evidence of significantly elevated inbreeding and mutational load in coastal winter-brown hares, consistent with a recent range expansion into temperate coastal environments that incurred indirect fitness costs. The genome-wide distribution of introgression tract lengths supports a pulse of hybridization near the end of the last glacial maximum, which may have facilitated range expansion via introgression of winter-brown camouflage variation. However, signatures of a selective sweep at <i>Agouti</i> indicate a much more recent spread of winter-brown camouflage. Through simulations we show that the delay between the hybrid origin and subsequent selective sweep of the recessive winter-brown allele can be largely attributed to the limits of natural selection imposed by simple allelic dominance. We argue that while hybridization during periods of environmental change may provide a critical reservoir of adaptive variation at range edges, the probability and pace of local adaptation will strongly depend on population demography and the genetic architecture of introgressed variation.</p>
Local climate determines vulnerability to camouflage mismatch in snowshoe hares
<p>Aim: Phenological mismatches, when life-events become mistimed with optimal en- vironmental conditions, have become increasingly common under climate change. Population-level susceptibility to mismatches depends on how phenology and pheno- typic plasticity vary across a species' distributional range. Here, we quantify the envi- ronmental drivers of colour moult phenology, phenotypic plasticity, and the extent of phenological mismatch in seasonal camouflage to assess vulnerability to mismatch in a common North American mammal.<br> Location: North America.<br> Time period: 2010–2017.<br> Major taxa studied: Snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus).<br> Methods: We used > 5,500 by-catch photographs of snowshoe hares from 448 re- mote camera trap sites at three independent study areas. To quantify moult phenol- ogy and phenotypic plasticity, we used multinomial logistic regression models that incorporated geospatial and high-resolution climate data. We estimated occurrence of camouflage mismatch between hares' coat colour and the presence and absence of snow over 7 years of monitoring.<br> Results: Spatial and temporal variation in moult phenology depended on local climate conditions more so than on latitude. First, hares in colder, snowier areas moulted earlier in the fall and later in the spring. Next, hares exhibited phenotypic plasticity in moult phenology in response to annual variation in temperature and snow dura- tion, especially in the spring. Finally, the occurrence of camouflage mismatch varied in space and time; white hares on dark, snowless background occurred primarily during low-snow years in regions characterized by shallow, short-lasting snowpack.<br> Main conclusions: Long-term climate and annual variation in snow and temperature determine coat colour moult phenology in snowshoe hares. In most areas, climate change leads to shorter snow seasons, but the occurrence of camouflage mismatch varies across the species' range. Our results underscore the population-specific sus- ceptibility to climate change-induced stressors and the necessity to understand this variation to prioritize the populations most vulnerable under global environmental change.</p>
Data from: Open-ocean fish reveal an omnidirectional solution to camouflage in polarized environments
Despite appearing featureless to our eyes, the open ocean is a highly variable environment for polarization-sensitive viewers. Dynamic visual backgrounds coupled with predator encounters from all possible directions make this habitat one of the most challenging for camouflage. We tested open-ocean crypsis in nature by collecting more than 1500 videopolarimetry measurements from live fish from distinct habitats under a variety of viewing conditions. Open-ocean fish species exhibited camouflage that was superior to that of both nearshore fish and mirrorlike surfaces, with significantly higher crypsis at angles associated with predator detection and pursuit. Histological measurements revealed that specific arrangements of reflective guanine platelets in the fish's skin produce angle-dependent polarization modifications for polarocrypsis in the open ocean, suggesting a mechanism for natural selection to shape reflectance properties in this complex environment.
Data from: Open water camouflage via 'leaky' light guides in the midwater squid Galiteuthis
Galiteuthis, a midwater squid, has photophores on the ventral surfaces of its eyes. These photophores emit bioluminescence to counter-illuminate the shadows cast by the eyes in downwelling sunlight, thereby hiding the eyes from upward-looking predators. The photophores consist of laminated fibre-like cells with semi-coaxial protein-dense layers around axial cytoplasm. These cells have been suggested to function as light guides: bioluminescence is an isotropic process used to hide in an anisotropic light environment, so any emission must be reshaped to be effective. We found a wide variation in cross-sectional geometries of photophore cells; some were more efficient at light guiding than others. We used a set of optical models to place these photophores in the context of the radiance where Galiteuthis lives and discovered a possible adaptive reason for this variation. In Galiteuthis's horizontal and vertical range, ocean radiance is also quite variable. For complete camouflage, photophores must reproduce this variation in radiance using an isotropic source. Our models show that variation in the geometry of the photophore light guides reproduces the predicted variation in ocean radiance experienced by this species. By selectively activating geometrically distinct populations of photophore cells, the animal may reproduce the angular distribution of light at all positions in its habitat.
Data from: Trap colour of the carnivorous plant Drosera rotundifolia does not serve a prey attraction or camouflage function.
The traps of many carnivorous plants are red in colour. This has been widely hypothesized to serve a prey attraction function; colour has also been hypothesized to function as camouflage, preventing prey avoidance. We tested these two hypotheses in situ for the carnivorous plant Drosera rotundifolia. We conducted three separate studies: (i) prey attraction to artificial traps to isolate the influence of colour; (ii) prey attraction to artificial traps on artificial backgrounds to control the degree of contrast and (iii) observation of prey capture by D. rotundifolia to determine the effects of colour on prey capture. Prey were not attracted to green traps and were deterred from red traps. There was no evidence that camouflaged traps caught more prey. For D. rotundifolia, there was a relationship between trap colour and prey capture. However, trap colour may be confounded with other leaf traits. Thus, we conclude that for D. rotundifolia, red trap colour does not serve a prey attraction or camouflage function.
Data from: Is the pirate really a ghost? Evidence for generalized chemical camouflage in an aquatic predator, Pirate Perch (Aphredoderus sayanus)
Camouflage occupies a central role in arsenals of both predators and prey and invokes visions of organisms possessing specific characteristics or altering their shape, color, or behavior to blend into the visual background or confound identification. However, many organisms use modalities other than vision. Chemical communication is particularly important in aquatic systems, and chemicals cues are used by a broad array of colonizing organisms to recognize and avoid risky habitats. Here we describe a habitat selection experiment with aquatic beetles and summarize results of 11 experiments involving colonizing beetles and ovipositing tree frogs that provide evidence that pirate perch Aphredoderus sayanus are chemically camouflaged with respect to a diverse array of prey organisms. We believe this to be the first example of a predator possessing a generalized chemical camouflage effective against a broad array of prey organisms, and we suggest that it may constitute a novel weapon in the predator-prey arms race.
Figure 4 in Morphology of camouflage by encrustation in the spider crabs Schizophrys dahlak and Hyastenus hilgendorfi (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea: Epialtidae) from the Suez Canal, Egypt
Figure 4. Hyastenus hilgendorfi. (a) Clusters of spinules on orbital regions; (b) close-up of a cluster; (c) arrow indicates typical hooked seta on the exoskeleton; (d) annuli on the basal region of the setal shaft of hooked setae indicated by arrow; (e) arrow indicates hair-like setules of pappose setae, randomly distributed on the medial and distal portions of setal shaft; (f) arrow indicates tendri-pappose setae with thread-like setules randomly distributed on proximal and distal portions of setal shaft; (g) cuspidate setae on the exoskeleton; (h) air-dried wedged setae on exoskeleton; (i) critical-pointdried wedged setae.
Figure 3 in Morphology of camouflage by encrustation in the spider crabs Schizophrys dahlak and Hyastenus hilgendorfi (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea: Epialtidae) from the Suez Canal, Egypt
Figure 3. dahlak. (a) Typical cuspidate setae on exoskeleton. (b–e) Antler setae: (b) arrow indicates miniature (short) antler setae with horn-like setal shaft; (c) four large denticles near the distal portion; (d) tall antler setae; (e) arrow indicates tiny denticles arranged in a single row. (f) Pappose setae on exoskeleton indicated by arrow. (g) Plumose setae found randomly on carapace. Setules (S in inset) situated in grooves indicated by arrow. (h) Composite setae on lateral margins of carapace. (i) Setules flanking one side of setal shaft (S in inset). (j) Multiserrate setae found on branchial and abdominal regions of exoskeleton.
Figure 2 in Morphology of camouflage by encrustation in the spider crabs Schizophrys dahlak and Hyastenus hilgendorfi (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea: Epialtidae) from the Suez Canal, Egypt
Figure 2. Schizophrys dahlak. (a) Arrows point to surface protuberances among hooked setae. (b–d) Patterns of distribution of the three types of tubercles on S. dahlak integument. (b) Arrow points to single denticles found in rows; (c) paired denticles indicated by arrow; (d) single denticle facing a group of spinules. (e) Arrow indicates typical hooked setae on exoskeleton. (f) Lateral slit present on the proximal portion up to distal end indicated by arrow. Denticles (De) on inside of curve on the distal portion of setal shaft. (g) Simple setae on the branchial and abdominal regions of the exoskeleton. (h) Arrow points to slightly curved distal end of the longest simple setae.
Figure 1 in Morphology of camouflage by encrustation in the spider crabs Schizophrys dahlak and Hyastenus hilgendorfi (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea: Epialtidae) from the Suez Canal, Egypt
Figure 1. (a) Hyastenus hilgendorfi, totally inconspicuous individual; (b) Schizophrys dahlak, carapace visible through epibiota; (c) heavily fouled rostrum of H. hilgendorfi (air-dried sample, treatment method after Szebeni and Hartnoll (2005); (d) carapace of H. hilgendorfi masked with ascidians indicated by arrows; (e) arrows point to cleaned regions of the same carapace as in (d); (f) carapace regions of S. dahlak.
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Allen Brain Atlas
Allen Brain Atlas is an Allen Institute collection of brain map atlases, datasets, APIs, and analysis tools covering mouse, human, and non-human primate brain resources.
Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)
ABODe is a University of Edinburgh DataShare dataset for behavior classification in group-housed mice using home-cage video, identities, bounding boxes, ground-plate positions, and annotator labels.
DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
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The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.