The Evolution of Multimodal Warning Displays

Rowe, Candy; Guilford, Tim

doi:10.1023/a:1011021630244

Cited by 159 publications

(110 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…There is ample evidence that red (Roper, 1990), orange (Ritland, 1998), and yellow (Rowe and Guilford, 1999;Lindström et al, 2001) colors serve as warning signals to avian predators. In addition, several studies have found that predators avoid red Despite the variations, red remains as the most contrasting color (A,B), and it is very stable in the BY opponent system (B), contrary to our predictions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Color contrast and stability as key elements for effective warning signals

2014

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Vivid warning signals (aposematism) have evolved repeatedly throughout the animal kingdom. However, relatively few studies consider what makes an effective signal, in terms of preventing attack and promoting avoidance learning by predators. Signal form varies substantially among and sometimes within species, but there has also been apparent convergence on relatively few main color types. We aimed to determine why warning signals often combine red, orange, yellow, and black colors, and specifically to determine whether these colors provide highly salient and reliable visual signals under a range of environmental conditions. Using digital image analysis, we modeled ladybird (ladybug) coloration to an avian visual system. We calculated the contrast of several different ladybird species against an average green background, based on predicted opponent color channel responses in bird vision. Our results suggest that longwave colors (i.e., red, orange) are more contrasting than colors such as blue, against green natural backgrounds. Moreover, these colors yield relatively unchanging (stable) signals throughout the day and under different weather conditions. These analyses show how aposematic signals have evolved under selection to be more effective by being more conspicuous and reliable to the visual system of their potential avian predators.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Color contrast and stability as key elements for effective warning signals

2014

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“…While much recent work has documented the occurrence of multi-modal signals in a variety of animals (Fusani et al, 1997;Hoelldobler, 1999;Hughes, 1996;McGurk and MacDonald, 1976;Partan and Marler, 1999;Rowe and Guilford, 1999), including spiders (Hebets and Uetz, 1999;Scheffer et al, 1996;Uetz and Roberts, 2002), the complexity found in H. dossenus is impressive. Multiple visual ornaments and visual displays exist together with a complexity of seismic signals that is unprecedented in spiders.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seismic signals in a courting male jumping spider (Araneae:Salticidae)

Elias

Mason

Maddison

et al. 2003

Journal of Experimental Biology

117

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In the study of animal signals, spiders have emerged as a classic example of signalling using substrate-propagated vibrations (Barth, 1998). The vibrations propagated through the delicate webs of orb-weaving spiders are clear examples of signalling through vibrations (Barth, 1998;Finck, 1981;Frohlich and Buskirk, 1982;Klarner and Barth, 1982;Landolfa and Barth, 1996;Masters, 1984;Masters and Markl, 1981;Vollrath, 1979), but the majority of spiders may also use substrate-propagated vibrations in such varied substrates as water, soil, leaf litter or plants (Barth, 1985(Barth, , 1998(Barth, , 2002Bleckmann and Barth, 1984;Bristowe, 1929;Fernandezmontraveta and Schmitt, 1994;Rovner, 1968;Stratton and Uetz, 1983;Uetz and Stratton, 1982). Three types of substrate-borne vibration-production mechanisms have been described in spiders: percussion, stridulation and vibration (tremulation; Uetz and Stratton, 1982). Percussion is produced by the drumming of body parts against the substrate and has been described in a variety of species (Dierkes and Barth, 1995;Stratton, 1983;Uetz and Stratton, 1982). Stridulation occurs by the rubbing of two rigid body structures relative to each other (Dumortier, 1963) and seems to occur commonly in spiders (Legendre, 1963), particularly in wolf spiders (Family:Lycosidae; Rovner, 1975;Stratton and Uetz, 1983;Uetz and Stratton, 1982). Tremulation (Morris, 1980) is the third method of substrate-borne vibration production found in spiders (Barth, 2002;Dierkes and Barth, 1995;Rovner, 1980;Uetz and Stratton, 1982) and occurs by the oscillation of body parts, without a frequency multiplier (i.e. stridulation), coupled to the substratum, usually by adhesive hairs on the tips of one or more of the legs. All of these mechanisms can be used to produce substrate-borne (seismic) signals (Aicher et al., 1983;Aicher and Tautz, 1990;Narins, 1990).Jumping spiders (Family: Salticidae) are unique among spiders in that they are visual 'specialists', having two large, prominent frontal eyes that are specialized for high spatial resolution, as befits their predatory habits as stalker-hunters (Forster, 1982a;Land, 1985). Not surprisingly, vision also plays a prominent role in their signalling behaviour. Males, unlike females, have evolved conspicuously ornamented and coloured appendages that they wave like semaphores during courtship, producing stereotyped, species-specific visual displays that unfold over periods of seconds to minutes (Crane, 1949;Forster, 1982b;Jackson, 1982). These displays function in species isolation, species recognition and female

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“…Multicomponent signals may evolve through a variety of mechanisms operating alone or in combination (Andersson, 1994 ;Andersson & Iwasa, 1996 ;Jennions & Petrie, 1997;Brooks & Couldridge, 1999 ;Rowe & Guilford, 1999 ;Andersson et al, 2002). These include runaway selection (Fisher, 1930(Fisher, , 1958, indicator processes (direct and indirect benefits; Darwin, 1871;Zahavi, 1975 ;Grafen, 1990), sensory exploitation (Ryan & Keddy-Hector, 1992), status signal selection (Pryke, Andersson & Lawes, 2001), chaseaway selection (Holland & Rice, 1998 ;Brooks & Couldridge, 1999 ; but see Rosenthal & Servedio, 1999), and species recognition mechanisms (Crapon de Caprona & Ryan, 1990 ;Pfennig, 1998;Hankinson & Morris, 2002).…”

Section: Multiple Trait Evolution Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

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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The Evolution of Multimodal Warning Displays

Cited by 159 publications

References 39 publications

Color contrast and stability as key elements for effective warning signals

Color contrast and stability as key elements for effective warning signals

Seismic signals in a courting male jumping spider (Araneae:Salticidae)

Individual colour patches as multicomponent signals

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