Adaptation of the tree frog, <i>Hyla cinerea</i>, to colored backgrounds, and the rôle of the three chromatophore types

Nielsen, Hans Ingolf; Dyck, Jan

doi:10.1002/jez.1402050111

Cited by 31 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The second layer is made up of iridophores and the third layer consists of melanophores. A reflective shield of connective tissue occurs beneath the melanophores in frogs and lizards (Nielsen & Dyck, 1978;Macedonia et al, 2000), and reflective leucophores have been found below the melanophores in some fishes. Other species lack a reflective shield below the melanophores (reviewed in Obika, 1988 ;Fujii, 1993).…”

Section: Mechanisms Of Colour Production and Colour Change ( 1) mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tree frogs (Hyla spp.) maintain crypsis against different backgrounds by altering all three chromatophore layers independently (Nielsen, 1978;Nielsen & Dyck, 1978). Individual Hyla cinerea can assume up to eight recognizably different colours, from black and brown, through various shades of green, to lemon yellow.…”

Section: Mechanisms Of Colour Production and Colour Change ( 1) mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Individual Hyla cinerea can assume up to eight recognizably different colours, from black and brown, through various shades of green, to lemon yellow. Based on skin reflectance measurements, Nielsen & Dyck (1978) inferred that the colour changes are caused by coordinated changes in the dispersion of reflecting platelets, xanthosomes and melanosomes. For example, the transition from olive green to lemon yellow involves dispersion of reflecting platelets and aggregation of melanosomes.…”

Section: Mechanisms Of Colour Production and Colour Change ( 1) mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Individual colour patches as multicomponent signals

2004

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Colour patches are complex traits, the components of which may evolve independently through a variety of mechanisms. Although usually treated as simple, two-dimensional characters and classified as either structural or pigmentary, in reality colour patches are complicated, three-dimensional structures that often contain multiple pigment types and structural features. The basic dermal chromatophore unit of fishes, reptiles and amphibians consists of three contiguous cell layers. Xanthophores and erythrophores in the outermost layer contain carotenoid and pteridine pigments that absorb short-wave light ; iridophores in the middle layer contain crystalline platelets that reflect light back through the xanthophores ; and melanophores in the basal layer contain melanins that absorb light across the spectrum. Changes in any one component of a chromatophore unit can drastically alter the reflectance spectrum produced, and for any given adaptive outcome (e.g. an increase in visibility), there may be multiple biochemical or cellular routes that evolution could take, allowing for divergent responses by different populations or species to similar selection regimes. All of the mechanisms of signal evolution that previously have been applied to single ornaments (including whole colour patches) could potentially be applied to the individual components of colour patches. To reach a complete understanding of colour patch evolution, however, it may be necessary to take an explicitly multi-trait approach. Here, we review multiple trait evolution theory and the basic mechanisms of colour production in fishes, reptiles and amphibians, and use a combination of computer simulations and empirical examples to show how multiple trait evolution theory can be applied to the components of single colour patches. This integrative perspective on animal colouration opens up a host of new questions and hypotheses. We offer specific, testable functional hypotheses for the most common pigmentary (carotenoid, pteridine and melanin) and structural components of vertebrate colour patches.

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Section: Mechanisms Of Colour Production and Colour Change ( 1) mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mechanisms Of Colour Production and Colour Change ( 1) mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mechanisms Of Colour Production and Colour Change ( 1) mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Individual colour patches as multicomponent signals

2004

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“…, the light absorbing organelles) can be reallocated in the melanophores ( i.e. , a type of pigment cells within the dermal chromatophore unit), resulting in a lightening (pigment aggregation) or darkening (pigment dispersion) of the skin323334353637. Although these colour shifts are not instantaneous as those exhibited by chameleons, flatfish or cephalopods383940, both larvae and adults of many amphibian species benefit from relatively rapid ( i.e.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The vast majority of studies on amphibian camouflage have focused on anurans283334375960 (see ref. 61 for an extensive review), whereas the adaptive value of cryptic coloration and behaviour of salamanders –aside from their aposematic traits626364– has received considerably less investigation.…”

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Pigmentation plasticity enhances crypsis in larval newts: associated metabolic cost and background choice behaviour

Polo‐Cavia

Gómez-Mestre

2017

Sci Rep

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In heterogeneous environments, the capacity for colour change can be a valuable adaptation enhancing crypsis against predators. Alternatively, organisms might achieve concealment by evolving preferences for backgrounds that match their visual traits, thus avoiding the costs of plasticity. Here we examined the degree of plasticity in pigmentation of newt larvae (Lissotriton boscai) in relation to predation risk. Furthermore, we tested for associated metabolic costs and pigmentation-dependent background choice behaviour. Newt larvae expressed substantial changes in pigmentation so that light, high-reflecting environment induced depigmentation whereas dark, low-reflecting environment induced pigmentation in just three days of exposure. Induced pigmentation was completely reversible upon switching microhabitats. Predator cues, however, did not enhance cryptic phenotypes, suggesting that environmental albedo induces changes in pigmentation improving concealment regardless of the perceived predation risk. Metabolic rate was higher in heavily pigmented individuals from dark environments, indicating a high energetic requirement of pigmentation that could impose a constraint to larval camouflage in dim habitats. Finally, we found partial evidence for larvae selecting backgrounds matching their induced phenotypes. However, in the presence of predator cues, larvae increased the time spent in light environments, which may reflect a escape response towards shallow waters rather than an attempt at increasing crypsis.

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Color and color adaptation of the European tree frog, Hyla arborea

Nielsen

1980

J. Exp. Zool.

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The colors and color adaptation of the European tree frog, Hyla arborea, have been investigated by means of reflectance microspectrophotometry. The results are compared to those previously published on Hyla cinerea.The two species have a number of colors in common (yellow green, light green, green, dark green, black-green, and olive green), while grey colors are assumed only by Hyla arboren and lemon yellow (olive yellow) only by Hyla cinerea. The physical qualities of these colors and the corresponding states of the chromatophores are presented and discussed.

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Adaptation of the tree frog, Hyla cinerea, to colored backgrounds, and the rôle of the three chromatophore types

Abstract: Measurements have been made of the spectral reflectance of the dorsal skin of living tree frogs, Hyla cinerea.The colors assumed by the frogs when placed on backgrounds of different colors varied with respect to both dominant wavelength (565-580 nm), purity (42-58%) and lightness (2-19%).

Cited by 31 publications

References 20 publications

Individual colour patches as multicomponent signals

Individual colour patches as multicomponent signals

Pigmentation plasticity enhances crypsis in larval newts: associated metabolic cost and background choice behaviour

Color and color adaptation of the European tree frog, Hyla arborea

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