Testing the adaptive hypothesis of Batesian mimicry among hybridizing North American admiral butterflies

Kristiansen, Evan B.; Finkbeiner, Susan D.; Hill, Ryan I.; Prusa, Louis A; Mullen, Sean P.

doi:10.1111/evo.13488

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…In Western Palearctic snakes, body colors are not conspicuous. It would thus be interesting to perform predation tests in natural conditions to investigate whether the features copied by potential mimics are those effectively used by predators to avoid models (e.g., as in Kristiansen et al 2018). Nevertheless, as discussed previously, all identified mimics use behavioral or acoustic imitation in addition to color pattern, and as resemblance in several ontogenetically independent traits can hardly be attributed to ecological convergence, mimicry remains the most likely explanation in our view.…”

Section: Score Frequencymentioning

confidence: 71%

Looking for Mimicry in a Snake Assemblage Using Deep Learning

Solan

Renoult

Géniez

et al. 2020

The American Naturalist

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Batesian mimicry is a canonical example of evolution by natural selection, popularized by highly colorful species resembling unrelated models with astonishing precision. However, Batesian mimicry could also occur in inconspicuous species and rely on subtle resemblance. Although potentially widespread, such instances have been rarely investigated, such that the real frequency of Batesian mimicry has remained largely unknown. To fill this gap, we developed a new approach using deep learning to quantify the visual resemblance between putative mimics and models from photographs. We applied this method to Western Palearctic snakes. Potential nonvenomous mimics were revealed by an excess of resemblance to sympatric venomous snakes compared with random expectations. We found that 8% of the nonvenomous species were potential mimics, although they resembled their models imperfectly. This study is the first to quantify the frequency of Batesian mimicry in a whole community of vertebrates, and it shows that even concealed species can act as potential models. Our approach should prove useful for detecting mimicry in other communities, and more generally it highlights the benefits of deep learning for quantitative studies of phenotypic resemblance.

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Section: Score Frequencymentioning

confidence: 71%

Looking for Mimicry in a Snake Assemblage Using Deep Learning

Solan

Renoult

Géniez

et al. 2020

The American Naturalist

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“…1 & 2). There is evidence to support higher attacks on mimics when mimetic loads are high in butterflies (Kristiansen et al 2018) and in snakes (Pfennig et al 2007). Interestingly, however, as models became better protected, pc decreased and mimic abundance increased (fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Predator Population Dynamics on Batesian Mimicry Complexes

Kikuchi

Barfield

Herberstein

et al. 2022

The American Naturalist

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Understanding Batesian mimicry is a classic problem in evolutionary biology. In Batesian mimicry, a defended species (the model) is mimicked by an undefended species (the mimic).Prior theories have emphasized the role of predator behavior and learning, and evolution in model-mimic complexes, but have not examined the role of population dynamics in potentially governing the relative abundances and even persistence of model-mimic systems. Here, we examined the effect of the population dynamics of predators and alternative prey on the prevalence of warning-signaling prey comprised of models and mimics. Using optimal foraging theory and signal detection theory, we found that the inclusion of predator and alternative prey population dynamics could reverse traditional theoretical predictions: as alternative prey increase in numbers, mimics suffer because larger populations of predators are maintained, resulting in apparent competition. Under some circumstances, apparent competition affects model populations as well, although not as severely as it affected mimics. Our results bear on the intriguing puzzle that in nature, warning signals are relatively scarce, yet experiments suggest that such signals can be highly advantageous. The availability of alternative prey, and numerical responses by predators, can overwhelm advantages observed in experiments to keep warning signals in model-mimic systems relatively scarce.

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“…We evaluated whether camera trap videos can provide additional information that could be useful to field studies of predation employing artificial prey. Field studies typically rely on the relative frequencies of clay marks on different prey phenotypes to infer avoidance behaviors of predators (Noonan & Comeault, 2008; Marek et al, 2011; Dell’Aglio, Stevens & Jiggins, 2016; Kristiansen et al, 2018). Previous predation field studies that have employed camera traps have generally used photography (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the utility of camera traps in field studies of predation

Akcali

Pérez-Mendoza

Salazar-Valenzuela

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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Artificial prey techniques—wherein synthetic replicas of real organisms are placed in natural habitats—are widely used to study predation in the field. We investigated the extent to which videography could provide additional information to such studies. As a part of studies on aposematism and mimicry of coral snakes (Micrurus) and their mimics, observational data from 109 artificial snake prey were collected from video-recording camera traps in three locations in the Americas (terra firme forest, Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador; premontane wet forest, Nahá Reserve, Mexico; longleaf pine forest, Southeastern Coastal Plain, North Carolina, USA). During 1,536 camera days, a total of 268 observations of 20 putative snake predator species were recorded in the vicinity of artificial prey. Predators were observed to detect artificial prey 52 times, but only 21 attacks were recorded. Mammals were the most commonly recorded group of predators near replicas (243) and were responsible for most detections (48) and attacks (20). There was no difference between avian or mammalian predators in their probability of detecting replicas nor in their probability of attacking replicas after detecting them. Bite and beak marks left on clay replicas registered a higher ratio of avian:mammalian attacks than videos registered. Approximately 61.5% of artificial prey monitored with cameras remained undetected by predators throughout the duration of the experiments. Observational data collected from videos could provide more robust inferences on the relative fitness of different prey phenotypes, predator behavior, and the relative contribution of different predator species to selection on prey. However, we estimate that the level of predator activity necessary for the benefit of additional information that videos provide to be worth their financial costs is achieved in fewer than 20% of published artificial prey studies. Although we suggest future predation studies employing artificial prey to consider using videography as a tool to inspire new, more focused inquiry, the investment in camera traps is unlikely to be worth the expense for most artificial prey studies until the cost:benefit ratio decreases.

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Testing the adaptive hypothesis of Batesian mimicry among hybridizing North American admiral butterflies

Cited by 11 publications

References 65 publications

Looking for Mimicry in a Snake Assemblage Using Deep Learning

Looking for Mimicry in a Snake Assemblage Using Deep Learning

The Effect of Predator Population Dynamics on Batesian Mimicry Complexes

Evaluating the utility of camera traps in field studies of predation

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