Find research datasets worth reusing
Search datasets from major research repositories and use ShareScore to quickly assess how well each record supports discovery, access, and reuse.
68
datasets available to search
ShareScore release 0.9.0
Dataset results
68 results for “colour evolution”
Uncovering the effects of Müllerian mimicry on the evolution of conspicuousness in colour patterns
Variation in the conspicuousness of colour patterns is observed within and among defended prey species. The evolution of conspicuous colour pattern in defended species can be strongly impaired because of increased detectability by predators. Nevertheless, such evolution of the colour pattern can be favoured if changes in conspicuousness result in Müllerian mimicry with other defended prey. Here, we develop a model describing the population dynamics of a conspicuous defended prey species, and we assess the invasion conditions of derived phenotypes that differ from the ancestral phenotype by their conspicuousness. Such change in conspicuousness may then modify their level of mimicry with the local community of defended species. Derived colour pattern displayed in this focal population can therefore be either exactly similar, partially resembling or completely dissimilar to the local mimicry ring displaying the ancestral colour pattern. We assume that predation risk depends (1) on the number of individuals sharing a given colour pattern within the population, (2) on the occurrence of co-mimetic defended species, and (3) on the availability of alternative edible prey. Using a combination of analytical derivations and numerical simulations, we show that colour patterns that are less conspicuous than the ancestral one are generally favoured within mimicry rings, unless reduced conspicuousness impairs mimicry. By contrast, when a mutation affecting the colour pattern leads to a shift toward a better protected mimicry ring, a more conspicuous colour pattern can be favoured. The selected aposematic pattern then depends on the local communities of defended and edible prey, as well as on the detectability, memorability and level of mimicry of the colour patterns.
Uncovering the effects of Müllerian mimicry on the evolution of conspicuousness in colour patterns
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Datasets and scripts from: Sensory-based quantification of male colour patterns in Trinidadian guppies reveals no support for parallel phenotypic evolution in multivariate trait space
<p>Parallel evolution, in which independent populations evolve along similar phenotypic trajectories, offers insights into the repeatability of adaptive evolution. Here, we revisit a classic example of parallelism, that of repeated evolution of brighter males in the Trinidadian guppy (<em>Poecilia reticulata</em>). In guppies, colonisation of low predation habitats is associated with emergence of 'more colourful' phenotypes since predator-induced viability selection for crypsis weakens while sexual selection by female preference for conspicuousness remains strong. Our study differs from previous investigations in three respects. First, we adopt a multivariate phenotyping approach to characterise parallelism in multi-trait space. Second, we use ecologically-relevant colour traits defined by the visual systems of the two selective agents (i.e. guppy, predatory cichlid). Third, we estimate population genetic structure to test for adaptive (parallel) evolution against a model of neutral phenotypic divergence. We find strong phenotypic differentiation that is inconsistent with a neutral model but very limited support for the predicted pattern of greater conspicuousness at low predation. Effects of predation regime on each trait were in the expected direction, but weak, largely non-significant, and explained little among-population variation. In multi-trait space, phenotypic trajectories of lineages colonising low from high predation regimes were not parallel. Our results are consistent with reduced predation risk facilitating adaptive differentiation, potentially by female choice, but suggest that this proceeds in independent directions of multi-trait space across lineages. Pool-sequencing data also revealed SNPs showing greater differentiation than expected under neutrality, among which some are found in genes contributing to colour pattern variation, presenting opportunities for future genetic study.</p>
Data from: Correlated evolution between colouration and ambush site in predators with visual prey lures
The evolution of a visual signal will be affected by signaller and receiver behaviour, and by the physical properties of the environment where the signal is displayed. Crab spiders are typical sit-and-wait predators found in diverse ambush sites, such as tree bark, foliage and flowers. Some of the flower-dweller species present a UV+-white visual lure that makes them conspicuous and attractive to their prey. We hypothesised that UV+-white colouration was associated with the evolution of a flower-dwelling habit. In addition, following up on results from a previous study we tested whether the UV+-white colouration evolved predominantly in flower-dwelling species occurring in Australia. We measured the reflectance of 1149 specimens from 66 species collected in Australia and Europe, reconstructed a crab spider phylogeny, and applied phylogenetic comparative methods to test our hypotheses. We found that the flower-dwelling habit evolved independently multiple times, and that this trait was correlated with the evolution of the UV+-white colouration. However, outside Australia non-flower-dwelling crab spiders also express a UV+-white colouration. Therefore, UV+-white reflectance is probably a recurring adaptation of some flower-dwellers for attracting pollinators, although it may have other functions in non-flower-dwellers, such as camouflage.
The effects of ecology and behaviour on the evolution of colouration in Coraciiformes
<p>What drives the evolution of plumage colour in birds? Bird colour is likely to be under both natural and sexual selection where natural selection may favour evolution towards crypsis or camouflage whereas sexual selection may favour evolution towards conspicuousness. The responses to selection are predicted to relate to species' ecology, behaviour, and life history. Key hypotheses have focused on habitat and light environment, breeding strategy, territoriality, and hunting behaviour. We tested these potential causes of colour variation in the Coraciiformes, a colourful clade of non-passerine birds, using phylogenetic comparative methods and data on plumage colouration and brightness measured from museum specimens. We found that correlates of colour evolution in Coraciiformes vary across body regions and depend on the focal colour property (hue or brightness). While light environment showed widespread effects on colouration in multiple body regions for both hue and brightness, selection pressures related to behavioural characteristics had more spatially localized effects (e.g. territoriality on wing feather brightness and hunting strategy on belly hue). Our results reveal both general patterns that may hold across other bird clades and more nuanced effects of selection that are likely to be mediated through the visual ecology of the signaller and receiver and the behavioural characteristics of Coraciiform species. </p>
Data from: Non-parallel impacts of predators on the evolution of colouration plasticity in Trinidadian killifish
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: Correlated evolution between colouration and ambush site in predators with visual prey lures
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Datasets and scripts from: Sensory-based quantification of male colour patterns in Trinidadian guppies reveals no support for parallel phenotypic evolution in multivariate trait space
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Evolution of aquatic snails' defences resulted in clade-specific differences in egg toxicity, pigments, and warning colouration
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
The role of secondary pollinators in the evolution of complex colour signals in a bimodal pollination system
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
The effects of ecology and behaviour on the evolution of colouration in Coraciiformes
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: The evolution of colour polymorphism in British winter‐active Lepidoptera in response to search image use by avian predators
Phenotypic polymorphism in cryptic species is widespread. This may evolve in response to search image use by predators exerting negative frequency‐dependent selection on intraspecific colour morphs, "apostatic selection". Evidence exists to indicate search image formation by predators and apostatic selection operating on wild prey populations, though not to demonstrate search image use directly resulting in apostatic selection. The present study attempted to address this deficiency, using British Lepidoptera active in winter as a model system. It has been proposed that the typically polymorphic wing colouration of these species represents an anti‐search image adaptation against birds. To test (a) for search image driven apostatic selection, dimorphic populations of artificial moth‐like models were established in woodland at varying relative morph frequencies and exposed to predation by natural populations of birds. In addition, to test (b) whether abundance and degree of polymorphism are correlated across British winter‐active moths, as predicted where search image use drives apostatic selection, a series of phylogenetic comparative analyses were conducted. There was a positive relationship between artificial morph frequency and probability of predation, consistent with birds utilising search images and exerting apostatic selection. Abundance and degree of polymorphism were found to be positively correlated across British Lepidoptera active in winter, though not across all taxonomic groups analysed. This evidence is consistent with polymorphism in this group having evolved in response to search image driven apostatic selection and supports the viability of this mechanism as a means by which phenotypic and genetic variation may be maintained in natural populations.
Data from: Grab my tail: evolution of dazzle stripes and colourful tails in lizards
Understanding the functions of animal coloration has been a long-standing question in evolutionary biology. For example, the widespread occurrence of striking longitudinal stripes and colourful tails in lizards begs for an explanation. Experiments have suggested that colourful tails can deflect attacks towards the tail (the 'deflection' hypothesis), which is sacrificable in most lizards, thereby increasing the chance of escape. Studies also suggest that in moving lizards, longitudinal body stripes can redirect predators' strikes towards the tail through the 'motion dazzle' effect. Despite these experimental studies, the ecological factors associated with the evolution of such striking colourations remain unexplored. Here, we investigated if predictions from motion dazzle and attack deflection could explain the widespread occurrence of these striking marks using comparative methods and information on eco-physiological variables (caudal autotomy, diel activity, microhabitat, and body temperature) potentially linked to their functioning. We found both longitudinal stripes and colourful tails are associated with diurnal activity and with the ability to lose the tail. Compared to stripeless species, striped species are more likely to be ground-dwelling and have higher body temperature, emphasizing the connection of stripes to mobility and rapid escape strategy. Colourful tails and stripes have evolved multiple times in a correlated fashion, suggesting that their functions may be linked. Overall, our results together with previous experimental studies support the notion that stripes and colourful tails in lizards may have protective functions based on deflective and motion dazzle effects.
Data from: The evolution of iris colour in relation to nocturnality in owls
Birds, due to their multiple colourful displays, constitute a classic paradigm for the study of colour evolution. Although avian eyes are remarkably coloured, the functional basis behind inter‐specific variability in iris colouration remains poorly understood. Owls are an ideal system to shed light on the role of ecology in promoting iris colour evolution as they show inter‐specific variation in iris colour and in niche specialization with some species being strictly nocturnal and others active during the day. Owls perching for hunting at night might be unnoticed by both predators and their prey if they had dark irises, which would predict that dark irises were more likely to evolve in strictly nocturnal species than in diurnal ones. Using phylogenetic comparative models, we tested the camouflage hypothesis for eye colour. Ancestral state reconstruction revealed that the owl ancestor of the family Strigidae was more likely bright‐irided whereas the ancestor of the family Tytonidae was more likely dark‐irided. We found that iris colour and activity rhythm have more likely evolved in concert than independently, and a non‐significant trend of dark eyes to evolve more easily in owl species presenting strictly nocturnal habits than in diurnal species. The transition from diurnality to nocturnality was a previous requisite for the evolution of dark irises in owls. Taken together our results are only partly consistent with the camouflage hypothesis suggesting that dark irises in owls have primarily evolved to enhance concealment in nocturnal conditions.
Data from: Rapid, habitat-related evolution of land snail colour morphs on reclaimed land
I made use of the known dates of reclamation (and of afforestations) in the IJsselmeerpolders in The Netherlands to assess evolutionary adaptation in Cepaea nemoralis. At 12 localities (three in each polder), I sampled a total of 4390 adult individuals in paired open and shaded habitats, on average 233 m apart, and scored these for genetic shell colour polymorphisms. The results show (highly) significant differentiation at most localities, although the genes involved differed per locality. Overall, though, populations in shaded habitats had evolved towards darker shells than those in adjacent open habitats, whereas a 'Cain & Sheppard' diagram (proportion yellow shells plotted against 'effectively unbanded' shells) failed to reveal a clear pattern. This might suggest that thermal selection is more important than visual selection in generating this pattern. Trait differentiation, regardless of whether they were plotted against polder age or habitat age, showed a linear increase of differentiation with time, corresponding to a mean rate of trait evolution of 15–31 kilodarwin. In conclusion, C. nemoralis is capable of rapid and considerable evolutionary differentiation over 1–25 snail generations, though equilibrium may be reached only at longer time scales.
Data from: Cryptic differences in colour among Müllerian mimics: how can the visual capacities of predators and prey shape the evolution of wing colours?
Antagonistic interactions between predators and prey often lead to co-evolution. In the case of toxic prey, aposematic colours act as warning signals for predators and play a protective role. Evolutionary convergence in colour patterns among toxic prey evolves due to positive density-dependent selection and the benefits of mutual resemblance in spreading the mortality cost of educating predators over a larger prey assemblage. Comimetic species evolve highly similar colour patterns, but such convergence may interfere with intraspecific signalling and recognition in the prey community, especially for species involved in polymorphic mimicry. Using spectrophotometry measures, we investigated the variation in wing coloration among comimetic butterflies from distantly related lineages. We focused on seven morphs of the polymorphic species Heliconius numata and the seven corresponding comimetic species from the genus Melinaea. Significant differences in the yellow, orange and black patches of the wing were detected between genera. Perceptions of these cryptic differences by bird and butterfly observers were then estimated using models of animal vision based on physiological data. Our results showed that the most strikingly perceived differences were obtained for the contrast of yellow against a black background. The capacity to discriminate between comimetic genera based on this colour contrast was also evaluated to be higher for butterflies than for birds, suggesting that this variation in colour, likely undetectable to birds, might be used by butterflies for distinguishing mating partners without losing the benefits of mimicry. The evolution of wing colour in mimetic butterflies might thus be shaped by the opposite selective pressures exerted by predation and species recognition.
Figure 9 in Mimetic colour pattern evolution in the highly polymorphic Bombus trifasciatus (Hymenoptera: Apidae) species complex and its comimics
Figure 9. Haplotype networks of the Bombus trifasciatus lineage for each of three nuclear genes: internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and arginine kinase (ArgK). Each circle represents a sampled or intermediate haplotype and each connecting line a base change. Haplotypes are coloured to represent similarly coloured sublineages in Figure 6. Numbers refer to voucher specimens listed in Table S1. Dashed lines connect heterozygous alleles (a1, a2) from an individual. Grey circles and lines for PEPCK and ArgK represent reconstruction using alternative phase haplotypes with the percentages of those haplotypes indicated.
Figure 3 in Mimetic colour pattern evolution in the highly polymorphic Bombus trifasciatus (Hymenoptera: Apidae) species complex and its comimics
Figure 3. Distribution of colour patterns of Bombus (Orientalibombus) haemorrhoidalis sensu Williams (1998) with previously recognized species outlined using dashed lines. Localities with yellow markers were sampled for DNA sequencing.
Figure 6. A in Mimetic colour pattern evolution in the highly polymorphic Bombus trifasciatus (Hymenoptera: Apidae) species complex and its comimics
Figure 6. A, Bayesian phylogeny of the Bombus trifasciatus lineage inferred using the mitochondrial genes cytochrome oxidase I (COI) + 16S. Unique sublineages are highlighted on the tree in different colours and their localities are circumscribed on the map (B). Average per cent sequence divergence is indicated on deeper nodes with COI divergences above and 16S divergences below. Voucher numbers for each specimen (Table S1) are listed in parentheses after colour pattern names and distribution.
Figure 2 in Mimetic colour pattern evolution in the highly polymorphic Bombus trifasciatus (Hymenoptera: Apidae) species complex and its comimics
Figure 2. Distribution of colour patterns of Bombus (Megabombus) trifasciatus sensu Williams (1998) with previously recognized species outlined using dashed lines. Localities with yellow markers were sampled for DNA sequencing.
ScienceDex guides
Understand access before you commit
These curated guides explain access requirements, typical timelines, costs, and reuse considerations for widely used research datasets.
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
DANDI is a BRAIN Initiative archive for publishing and sharing neurophysiology data, including electrophysiology, optophysiology, and behavioral data packaged as NWB and related standards.
International Brain Laboratory public data
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.