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29 results for “body colour”
Facial and body colouration is linked to social rank in the African cichlid Astatotilapia burtoni
<p>These are raw data files for our publication studying animal colouration and behaviour in an African cichlid, <em>Astatotilapia burtoni</em>. </p> <p> </p> <p>Abstract<br>Animal colouration is important for social communication within conspecifics to signal threats to competitors or fitness to possible mates. Social status and animal colouration are covarying traits that are plastic in response to dynamic environments. In the African cichlid, Astatotilapia burtoni, body colouration and behaviour have been reported to vary with social rank. However, the nature of the interaction between these two traits is poorly understood. We hypothesise that colouration patterns could be linked to the behavioural repertoires underlying social status and situated across regions of interest on the cichlid body plan. To test this hypothesis, we generated Territorial and Non-territorial males and employed computer vision tools to quantify and visualise patterns/colour enrichment associated with stereotyped Territorial/Non-Territorial male behaviour. We report colour-behaviour interactions localised in specific areas of the body and face for two colour morphs, illustrating a more nuanced view of social behaviour and colouration. Since behavioural and morphological variation are key drivers of selection in the East African Great Rift Lakes, we surmise our data may be translatable to other cichlid lineages and underline the importance of trait covariance in sexual selection and male competition.</p>
Figs. 9-11. Body shape and colour pattern. 9 in A new species of Cryptarcha (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) from Madagascar
Figs. 9-11. Body shape and colour pattern. 9 – Cryptarcha jenisi sp. nov.; 10 – C. klugii Reitter, 1876; 11 – C. sicardi Grouvelle, 1906.
Рис. 2. Основные части теΛа и эΛементы окраски Mesobuthus eupeus: I – просома; II – мезосома; III – метасома; a – меΑиаΛьная поΛоса; b – парамеΑиаΛьная поΛоса; с – маргинаΛьная поΛоса; d – поперечная поΛоса; e – пятна. Fig. 2. Main body parts and colour pattern elements of Mesobuthus eupeus: I – prosoma; II – mesosome; III – metasoma; a – medial stripe; b – paramedical stripe; с – marginal stripe; d – transverse stripe; e – spots. in Materials on the colour pattern variability of Mesobuthus eupeus (C.L. Koch, 1839) (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in southeastern Shirvan and Gobustan (Eastern Azerbaijan)
Рис. 2. Основные части теΛа и эΛементы окраски Mesobuthus eupeus: I – просома; II – мезосома; III – метасома; a – меΑиаΛьная поΛоса; b – парамеΑиаΛьная поΛоса; с – маргинаΛьная поΛоса; d – поперечная поΛоса; e – пятна. Fig. 2. Main body parts and colour pattern elements of Mesobuthus eupeus: I – prosoma; II – mesosome; III – metasoma; a – medial stripe; b – paramedical stripe; с – marginal stripe; d – transverse stripe; e – spots.
Data from: Global patterns of colouration complexity in the Paridae: Effects of climate and species characteristics across body regions
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Data and code for Body colour drives optimal insect phenology via thermoregulation
<p>Data and code for the manuscript entitled: "Body colour drives optimal insect phenology via thermoregulation"<br> by Roberto Novella-Fernandez, Roland Brandl, Stefan Pinkert, Dirk Zeuss, Christian Hof.</p>
Data from: Body size rather than reflectivity explains thermal constraints on colour variation in an aposematic jewel bug
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FIGURE. Plagiochasma appendiculatum Lehm. & Lindenb. II. (A) Green colour dorsal surface of thallus with notched apices (B) Cross section of thallus with air chambers and ventral tissue with oil bodies (C) Ventral scale with appendage (D) Slightly raised epidermal pore. A–E Ruklani & Rubasinghe 205-14SR (PDA). in Thalloid Liverworts (Marchantiopsida) of Sri Lanka
FIGURE. Plagiochasma appendiculatum Lehm. & Lindenb. II. (A) Green colour dorsal surface of thallus with notched apices (B) Cross section of thallus with air chambers and ventral tissue with oil bodies (C) Ventral scale with appendage (D) Slightly raised epidermal pore. A–E Ruklani & Rubasinghe 205-14SR (PDA).
Data from: Colour change on different body regions provides thermal and signalling advantages in bearded dragon lizards
Many terrestrial ectotherms are capable of rapid colour change, yet it is unclear how these animals accommodate the multiple functions of colour, particularly camouflage, communication and thermoregulation, especially when functions require very different colours. Thermal benefits of colour change depend on an animal's absorptance of solar energy in both UV–visible (300–700 nm) and near-infrared (NIR; 700–2600 nm) wavelengths, yet colour research has focused almost exclusively on the former. Here, we show that wild-caught bearded dragon lizards (Pogona vitticeps) exhibit substantial UV–visible and NIR skin reflectance change in response to temperature for dorsal but not ventral (throat and upper chest) body regions. By contrast, lizards showed the greatest temperature-independent colour change on the beard and upper chest during social interactions and as a result of circadian colour change. Biophysical simulations of heat transfer predicted that the maximum temperature-dependent change in dorsal reflectivity could reduce the time taken to reach active body temperature by an average of 22 min per active day, saving 85 h of basking time throughout the activity season. Our results confirm that colour change may serve a thermoregulatory function, and competing thermoregulation and signalling requirements may be met by partitioning colour change to different body regions in different circumstances.
Data from: Multifunctionality of an arthropod predator’s body colouration
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Data from: Natural selection in novel environments: predation selects for background matching in the body colour of a land fish
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Data from: Colour change on different body regions provides thermal and signalling advantages in bearded dragon lizards
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Antimicrobial capacity is related to body colouration and reproductive success in female spotless starlings
<p>Pathogenic microorganisms select for a plethora of defensive mechanisms on their hosts. In males of some species, flashy traits might signal antimicrobial capacity and, thus, they might be favoured in scenarios of sexual selection. Antimicrobial capacity of individuals may predict reproductive success in males, and it could be adapted to changing environments. However, evidence for these associations is still scarce in females. Here, we evaluated antimicrobial capacity of spotless starling (<i>Sturnus unicolor</i>) females during the mating and nestling-provisioning phase. We did this by measuring (i) the blood plasma inhibition capacity against 12 bacterial strains (antagonistic index), (ii) the constitutive innate humoral immunity (lysis and agglutination capacity, a non-specific first barrier of protection of hosts against microbial parasites), and (iii) the uropygial gland size and volume of secretion produced, relevant traits in the protection against, among others, feather-degrading bacteria. We also measured colouration of throat and back feathers, and of leg and beak integuments. This information was collected during the pre-laying and nestling stages to compare values from these two periods. We found an increase in the plasma antagonistic index from the pre-laying to the nestling period, while a decrease on the plasma capacity of agglutination of foreign antigens. Both plasma antagonistic index and humoral immune response measured before breeding were positively related to future female reproductive success. In addition, the level of antimicrobial capacity was related to colouration of leg skin and beak integuments and of back feathers. These associations suggest that, similar to males, females might show through their physical appearance their capacity to fight microbial infections; information that could be evaluated by their potential partners and by female competitors.</p>
Data from: Temperature-driven colour lightness and body size variation scale to local assemblages of European Odonata but are modified by propensity for dispersal
<p>1. Previous macrophysiological studies suggested that temperature-driven colour lightness and body size variations strongly influence biogeographical patterns in ectotherms. However, these trait-environment relationships scale to local assemblages and the extent to which they can be modified by dispersal remains largely unexplored. We test whether the predictions of the thermal melanism hypothesis and the Bergmann's rule hold for local assemblages. We also assess whether these trait-environment relationships are more important for species adapted to less stable (lentic) habitats, due to their greater dispersal propensity compared to those adapted to stable (lotic) habitats.</p> <p>2. We quantified the colour lightness and body volume of 99 European dragon- and damselflies (Odonata) and combined these trait information with survey data for 518 local assemblages across Europe. Based on this continent-wide yet spatially explicit dataset, we tested for effects temperature and precipitation on the colour lightness and body volume of local assemblages and assessed differences in their relative importance and strength between lentic and lotic assemblages, while accounting for spatial and phylogenetic autocorrelation.</p> <p>3. The colour lightness of assemblages of odonates increased and body size decreased with increasing temperature. Trait-environment relationships in the average and phylogenetic predicted component were equally important for assemblages of both habitat types but were stronger in lentic assemblages when accounting for phylogenetic autocorrelation.</p> <p>4. Our results show that the mechanism underlying colour lightness and body size variations scale to local assemblages, indicating their general importance. These mechanisms were of equal evolutionary significance for lentic and lotic species, but higher dispersal ability seems to enable lentic species to cope better with historical climatic changes. The documented differences between lentic and lotic assemblages also highlight the importance of integrating interactions of thermal adaptations with proxies of the dispersal ability of species into trait-based models, for improving our understanding of climate-driven biological responses.</p>
Data from: Body size affects the evolution of hidden colour signals in moths
Many cryptic prey have also evolved hidden contrasting colour signals which are displayed to would-be predators. Given that these hidden contrasting signals may confer additional survival benefits to the prey by startling/intimidating predators, it is unclear why they have evolved in some species, but not in others. Here, we have conducted a comparative phylogenetic analysis of the evolution of colour traits in the family Erebidae (Lepidoptera), and found that the hidden contrasting colour signals are more likely to be found in larger species. To understand why this relationship occurs, we present a general mathematical model, demonstrating that selection for a secondary defence such as deimatic display will be stronger in large species when (i) the primary defence (crypsis) is likely to fail as its body size increases and/or (ii) the secondary defence is more effective in large prey. To test the model assumptions, we conducted behavioural experiments using a robotic moth which revealed that survivorship advantages were higher against wild birds when the moth has contrasting hindwings and large size. Collectively, our results suggest that the evolutionary association between large size and hidden contrasting signals has been driven by a combination of the need for a back-up defence and its efficacy.
Data from: The evolution of colour pattern complexity: selection for conspicuousness favours contrasting within-body colour combinations in lizards
Many animals display complex colour patterns that comprise several adjacent, often contrasting colour patches. Combining patches of complementary colours increases the overall conspicuousness of the complex pattern, enhancing signal detection. Therefore, selection for conspicuousness may act not only on the design of single colour patches, but also on their combination. Contrasting long- and short-wavelength colour patches are located on the ventral and lateral surfaces of many lacertid lizards. As the combination of long- and short-wavelength-based colours generates local chromatic contrast, we hypothesized that selection may favour the co-occurrence of lateral and ventral contrasting patches, resulting in complex colour patterns that maximize the overall conspicuousness of the signal. To test this hypothesis, we performed a comparative phylogenetic study using a categorical colour classification based on spectral data and descriptive information on lacertid coloration collected from the literature. Our results demonstrate that conspicuous ventral (long-wavelength-based) and lateral (short-wavelength-based) colour patches co-occur throughout the lacertid phylogeny more often than expected by chance, especially in the subfamily Lacertini. These results suggest that selection promotes the evolution of the complex pattern rather than the acquisition of a single conspicuous colour patch, possibly due to the increased conspicuousness caused by the combination of colours with contrasting spectral properties.
Data from: The melanocortin system regulates body pigmentation and social behaviour in a colour polymorphic cichlid fish
The melanocortin system is a neuroendocrine system that regulates a range of physiological and behavioural processes. We examined the extent to which the melanocortin system simultaneously regulates colour and behaviour in the cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni. We found that yellow males are more aggressive than blue males, in line with previous studies. We then found that exogenous α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) increases yellowness of the body and dispersal of xanthophore pigments in both morphs. However, α-MSH had a morph-specific effect on aggression, with only blue males showing an increase in the rate of aggression. Exogenous agouti signalling peptide (ASIP), a melanocortin antagonist, did not affect coloration but reduced the rate of aggression in both colour morphs. Blue males had higher cortisol levels than yellow males. Neural gene expression of melanocortin receptors (mcr) and ligands was not differentially regulated between colour morphs. In the skin, however, mc1r and pro-opiomelanocortin (pomc) β were upregulated in blue males, while asip 1 was upregulated in yellow males. The effects of α-MSH on behaviour and body coloration, combined with morph-specific regulation of the stress response and the melanocortin system, suggest that the melanocortin system contributes to the polymorphism in behaviour and coloration in A. burtoni.
Data from: Chameleons communicate with complex colour changes during contests: different body regions convey different information
Many animals display static coloration (e.g. of feathers or fur) that can serve as a reliable sexual or social signal, but the communication function of rapidly changing colours (as in chameleons and cephalopods) is poorly understood. We used recently developed photographic and mathematical modelling tools to examine how rapid colour changes of veiled chameleons Chamaeleo calyptratus predict aggressive behaviour during male–male competitions. Males that achieved brighter stripe coloration were more likely to approach their opponent, and those that attained brighter head coloration were more likely to win fights; speed of head colour change was also an important predictor of contest outcome. This correlative study represents the first quantification of rapid colour change using organism-specific visual models and provides evidence that the rate of colour change, in addition to maximum display coloration, can be an important component of communication. Interestingly, the body and head locations of the relevant colour signals map onto the behavioural displays given during specific contest stages, with lateral displays from a distance followed by directed, head-on approaches prior to combat, suggesting that different colour change signals may evolve to communicate different information (motivation and fighting ability, respectively).
Data from: Phylogenetic comparative analysis supports aposematic colouration–body size association in millipede assassins (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Ectrichodiinae)
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Data from: The melanocortin system regulates body pigmentation and social behaviour in a colour polymorphic cichlid fish
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Data from: Body size affects the evolution of hidden colour signals in moths
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