Animal colour vision — behavioural tests and physiological concepts

Kelber, Almut; Vorobyev, Misha; Osorio, Daniel

doi:10.1017/s1464793102005985

Cited by 750 publications

(890 citation statements)

References 199 publications

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“…represented by a two-dimensional chromaticity diagram corresponding to the photoreceptor noise-limited colour opponent model. The colours from the replica models were plotted according to eqn (B5) in Kelber et al (2003). Chromaticity values that plot at a distance of less than one unit are unlikely to be discriminable along that axis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple selective pressures apply to a coral reef fish mimic: a case of Batesian–aggressive mimicry

Cheney

2010

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Mimics closely resemble unrelated species to avoid predation, capture prey or gain access to hosts or reproductive opportunities. However, the classification of mimicry systems into three established evolutionary mechanisms (protection, reproduction and foraging) can be contentious because multiple benefits may be gained by mimics, causing the evolution of such systems to be driven by more than one selective agent. However, data on such systems are generally speculative or anecdotal. This study provides empirical evidence that dual benefits apply to a coral reef fish mimic in terms of increased access to food (aggressive mimicry) and reduced predation risk (Batesian mimicry). Bicolour fangblennies Plagiotremus laudandus gained access to more reef fish victims, which they attack to feed on fins and scales, when they spent more time associated with their model Meiacanthus atrodorsalis. Furthermore, exact replicas of P. laudandus incurred fewer approaches from potential predators compared with control replicas that varied in resemblance to P. laudandus. Predators with trichromatic visual systems (three distinct spectral sensitivities) could potentially distinguish between replicas based on colour based on theoretical vision models. Therefore, this mimicry system could be best described as Batesian -aggressive mimicry in which mimicry evolution is driven by multiple simultaneous selective pressures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple selective pressures apply to a coral reef fish mimic: a case of Batesian–aggressive mimicry

Cheney

2010

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…lemurs) have two retinal cone types, while primates evolved an additional, third type of retinal cone. Birds, fish and many reptiles have yet a fourth type of retinal cone that can detect ultra-violet (UV) wavelengths (see Kelber et al 2003). So far, studies on fruit colouration have often categorised colours according to human vision (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographic patterns in fruit colour diversity: do leaves constrain the colour of fleshy fruits?

et al. 2008

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We tested for geographic patterns in fruit colour diversity. Fruit colours are thought to promote detection by seed dispersers. Because seed dispersers differ in their spectral sensitivities, we predicted that fruit colour diversity would be higher in regions with higher seed disperser diversity (i.e. the tropics). We collected reflectance data on 232 fruiting plant species and their natural backgrounds in seven localities in Europe, North and South America, and analysed fruit colour diversity according to the visual system of birds-the primary consumer types of these fruits. We found no evidence that fruit colours are either more conspicuous or more diverse in tropical areas characterised by higher seed disperser diversity. Instead, fruit colour diversity was lowest in central Brazil, suggesting that fruit colours may be more diverse in temperate regions. Although we found little evidence for geographic variation in fruit hues, the spectral properties of fruits were positively associated with the spectral properties of backgrounds. This result implies that fruit colours may be influenced by selection on the reflectance properties of leaves, thus constraining the evolution of fruit colour. Overall, the results suggest that fruit colours in the tropics are neither more diverse nor more conspicuous than temperate fruits, and that fruit colours may be influenced by correlated selection on leaf reflectance properties.

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“…Previous studies of both butterfly wing color cues and color vision have focused on papilionid, pierid or nymphalid families (Kelber et al, 2003). Little attention, however, has been paid to the youngest of butterfly families, the riodinids or the lycaenids, because they tend to be small and hard to distinguish to the human eye.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beauty in the eye of the beholder: the two blue opsins of lycaenid butterflies and the opsin gene-driven evolution of sexually dimorphic eyes

Sison-Mangus

Bernard

Lampel

et al. 2006

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARY Although previous investigations have shown that wing coloration is an important component of social signaling in butterflies, the contribution of opsin evolution to sexual wing color dichromatism and interspecific divergence remains largely unexplored. Here we report that the butterfly Lycaena rubidus has evolved sexually dimorphic eyes due to changes in the regulation of opsin expression patterns to match the contrasting life histories of males and females. The L. rubidus eye contains four visual pigments with peak sensitivities in the ultraviolet (UV;λ max=360 nm), blue (B; λmax=437 nm and 500 nm, respectively) and long (LW; λmax=568 nm) wavelength range. By combining in situ hybridization of cloned opsinencoding cDNAs with epi-microspectrophotometry, we found that all four opsin mRNAs and visual pigments are expressed in the eyes in a sex-specific manner. The male dorsal eye, which contains only UV and B (λmax=437 nm)visual pigments, indeed expresses two short wavelength opsin mRNAs, UVRh and BRh1. The female dorsal eye, which also has the UV and B (λmax=437 nm) visual pigments, also contains the LW visual pigment, and likewise expresses UVRh, BRh1 and LWRh mRNAs. Unexpectedly, in the female dorsal eye, we also found BRh1 co-expressed with LWRh in the R3-8 photoreceptor cells. The ventral eye of both sexes, on the other hand, contains all four visual pigments and expresses all four opsin mRNAs in a non-overlapping fashion. Surprisingly, we found that the 500 nm visual pigment is encoded by a duplicate blue opsin gene, BRh2. Further, using molecular phylogenetic methods we trace this novel blue opsin gene to a duplication event at the base of the Polyommatine+Thecline+Lycaenine radiation. The blue opsin gene duplication may help explain the blueness of blue lycaenid butterflies.

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Animal colour vision — behavioural tests and physiological concepts

Cited by 750 publications

References 199 publications

Multiple selective pressures apply to a coral reef fish mimic: a case of Batesian–aggressive mimicry

Multiple selective pressures apply to a coral reef fish mimic: a case of Batesian–aggressive mimicry

Geographic patterns in fruit colour diversity: do leaves constrain the colour of fleshy fruits?

Beauty in the eye of the beholder: the two blue opsins of lycaenid butterflies and the opsin gene-driven evolution of sexually dimorphic eyes

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