Context-dependent coloration of prey and predator decision making in contrasting light environments

A big question in behavioral ecology is what drives diversity of color signals. One possible explanation is that environmental conditions, such as light environment, may alter visual signaling of prey, which could affect predator decision-making. Here, we tested the context-dependent predator selection on prey coloration. In the first experiment, we tested detectability of artificial visual stimuli to blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) by manipulating stimulus luminance and chromatic context of the background. We expected the presence of the chromatic context to facilitate faster target detection. As expected, blue tits found targets on chromatic yellow background faster than on achromatic grey background whereas in the latter, targets were found with smaller contrast differences to the background. In the second experiment, we tested the effect of two light environments on the survival of aposematic, color polymorphic wood tiger moth (Arctia plantaginis). As luminance contrast should be more detectable than chromatic contrast in low light intensities, we expected birds, if they find the moths aversive, to avoid the white morph which is more conspicuous than the yellow morph in low light (and vice versa in bright light). Alternatively, birds may attack first moths that are more detectable. We found birds to attack yellow moths first in low light conditions, whereas white moths were attacked first more frequently in bright light conditions. Our results show that light environments affect predator foraging decisions, which may facilitate context-dependent selection on visual signals and diversity of prey phenotypes in the wild. Light environments are constantly changing and may alter visual appearance of prey, but also bias predators' decision making. Our findings using blue tits in visual search tasks and the wood tiger moth prey under two light environments demonstrate that birds show context-dependent predatory behavior. This suggests that light environments can play a major selective role and influence visual signaling in the wild.Peer reviewe

Supplementary data to: Context-dependent coloration of prey and predator decision making in contrasting light environments

A big question in behavioural ecology is what drives diversity of colour signals. The dataset covers the testing of the context-dependent predator selection on prey coloration. In the first experiment, detectability of artificial visual stimuli to blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) was tested by manipulating stimulus luminance and chromatic context of the background. In the second experiment, the effect of two light environments on the survival of aposematic, colour polymorphic wood tiger moth (Arctia plantaginis) was tested. For detailed description of the material, methods, and results of the study, see the article

<b>Flight behaviour diverge more between seasonal forms than between species in </b><b><i>Pieris</i></b><b> </b><b>butterflies</b>

Data accompanying the following publication:Kleckova I., Linke D., De Moraes Rezende F., Rauscher L., Le Roy C., Matos-Maraví P. (submitted) Flight behaviour diverge more between seasonal forms than between species in Pieris butterflies</p