Adaptive plumage wear for increased crypsis in the plumage of Palearctic larks (Alaudidae)

Negro, Juan J.; Galván, Ismael; Potti, Jaime

doi:10.1002/ecy.2771

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Beyond background matching, increased dorsal patterning in larks may also contribute to disruptive patterning that breaks up the visual outline of the bird as seen from above (Cuthill et al 2005). Disruptive patterning in larks may be associated with molt strategies that promote the retention of worn feathers with lighter edges (Negro et al 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plumage Balances Camouflage and Thermoregulation in Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris)

Mason

Ridell

Romero

et al. 2023

The American Naturalist

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Animal coloration serves many biological functions and must therefore balance potentially competing selective pressures. For example, many animals have camouflage, in which coloration matches the visual background against which predators scan for prey. However, different colors reflect different amounts of solar radiation and may therefore have thermoregulatory implications as well. In this study, we examined geographic variation in dorsal patterning, color, and solar reflectance among Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris) of the western United States. We found associations between dorsal plumage brightness, hue, and patterning relative to the soil conditions where specimens were collected. Specifically, brighter dorsal plumage corresponded to brighter soil, while redder, more saturated hues in dorsal plumage corresponded to redder soils. Furthermore, backs with more high-contrast patterning were more common among females and also associated with soil that had coarser soil fragments, suggesting that lark plumage has been selected to optimize background matching in different environments. We also found that larks exhibited higher solar reflectance in hotter and more arid environments, which lowers the water requirements for homeothermy. Taken together, these findings suggest that natural selection has balanced camouflage and thermoregulation in Horned Larks across a wide variety of soil types and abiotic conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plumage Balances Camouflage and Thermoregulation in Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris)

Mason

Ridell

Romero

et al. 2023

The American Naturalist

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“…However, other factors could influence this relationship. For instance, many species inhabiting open areas appear to rely on being cryptic to avoid predators (Negro et al 2019;Nokelainen et al 2020; but see Somveille et al 2016), in which case group formation would not be favoured. We did, however, find an effect of habitat openness on sociality, with species being more social in habitats with denser vegetation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Family-living and cooperative breeding in birds are associated with the number of avian predators

Bliard,

Dufour,

Griesser

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Cooperative breeding occurs when individuals contribute parental care to offspring that are not their own, and numerous intra- and inter-specific studies have aimed to explain the evolution of this behaviour. Recent comparative work suggests that family living (i.e., when offspring remain with their parents beyond independence) is a critical steppingstone in the evolution of cooperative breeding. Thus, it is key to understand the factors that facilitate the evolution of family living. Within-species studies suggest that protection from predators is a critical function of group living, through both passive benefits such as dilution effects, and active benefits such as nepotistic antipredator behaviours in kin groups. However, the association between predation risk and the formation and prevalence of family groups and cooperative breeding remains untested globally. Here we use phylogenetic comparative analyses including 2984 bird species to show that family living and cooperative breeding are associated with increased occurrence of avian predators. These cross-species findings lend support to previous suggestions based on intraspecific studies that social benefits of family living, such as protection against adult predation, could favour the evolution of delayed dispersal and cooperative breeding.

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“…Moreover, changes in tegument coloration can be achieved not only by varying the concentration of a pigment, but also by changing the pigment (e.g. replacing eumelanin with pheomelanin) or by pigment abrasion (Negro et al, 2019). In such cases, if each pigment is associated with a different cost, increasing crypsis could result in a lower physiological cost than remaining less cryptic (Grether et al, 2004).…”

Section: A B Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

The evolution of crypsis when pigmentation is physiologically costly

Moreno‐Rueda

2020

Anim. Biodiv. Conserv.

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Predation is one of the main selective forces in nature, frequently selecting for crypsis in prey. Visual crypsis usually implies the deposition of pigments in the integument. However, acquisition, synthesis, mobilisation and maintenance of pigments may be physiologically costly. Here, I develop an optimisation model to analyse how pigmentation costs may affect the evolution of crypsis. The model provides a number of predictions that are easy to test empirically. It predicts that imperfect crypsis should be common in the wild, but in such a way that pigmentation is less than what is required to maximise crypsis. Moreover, optimal crypsis should be closer to “maximal” crypsis as predation risk increases and/or pigmentation costs decrease. The model predicts for intraspecific variation in optimal crypsis, depending on the difference in the predation risk or the costs of pigmentation experienced by different individuals.

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Adaptive plumage wear for increased crypsis in the plumage of Palearctic larks (Alaudidae)

Cited by 5 publications

References 17 publications

Plumage Balances Camouflage and Thermoregulation in Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris)

Plumage Balances Camouflage and Thermoregulation in Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris)

Family-living and cooperative breeding in birds are associated with the number of avian predators

The evolution of crypsis when pigmentation is physiologically costly

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