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Disruptive coloration and background pattern matching

Author

Listed:
  • Innes C. Cuthill

    (University of Bristol)

  • Martin Stevens

    (University of Bristol)

  • Jenna Sheppard

    (University of Bristol)

  • Tracey Maddocks

    (University of Bristol)

  • C. Alejandro Párraga

    (University of Bristol)

  • Tom S. Troscianko

    (University of Bristol)

Abstract

Effective camouflage renders a target indistinguishable from irrelevant background objects. Two interrelated but logically distinct mechanisms for this are background pattern matching (crypsis1,2) and disruptive coloration: in the former, the animal's colours are a random sample of the background1,2; in the latter, bold contrasting colours on the animal's periphery break up its outline. The latter has long been proposed as an explanation for some apparently conspicuous coloration in animals3,4, and is standard textbook material. Surprisingly, only one quantitative test5 of the theory exists, and one experimental test of its effectiveness against non-human predators6. Here we test two key predictions: that patterns on the body's outline should be particularly effective in promoting concealment and that highly contrasting colours should enhance this disruptive effect. Artificial moth-like targets were exposed to bird predation in the field, with the experimental colour patterns on the ‘wings’ and a dead mealworm as the edible ‘body’. Survival analysis supported the predictions, indicating that disruptive coloration is an effective means of camouflage, above and beyond background pattern matching.

Suggested Citation

  • Innes C. Cuthill & Martin Stevens & Jenna Sheppard & Tracey Maddocks & C. Alejandro Párraga & Tom S. Troscianko, 2005. "Disruptive coloration and background pattern matching," Nature, Nature, vol. 434(7029), pages 72-74, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:434:y:2005:i:7029:d:10.1038_nature03312
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03312
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jennifer L Kelley & Ian Taylor & Nathan S Hart & Julian C Partridge, 2017. "Aquatic prey use countershading camouflage to match the visual background," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 28(5), pages 1314-1322.
    2. May, R. & Reitan, O. & Bevanger, K. & Lorentsen, S.-H. & Nygård, T., 2015. "Mitigating wind-turbine induced avian mortality: Sensory, aerodynamic and cognitive constraints and options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 170-181.
    3. Jolyon Troscianko & Jared Wilson-Aggarwal & David Griffiths & Claire N. Spottiswoode & Martin Stevens, 2017. "Relative advantages of dichromatic and trichromatic color vision in camouflage breaking," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 28(2), pages 556-564.
    4. Melia G. Nafus & Jennifer M. Germano & Jeanette A. Perry & Brian D. Todd & Allyson Walsh & Ronald R. Swaisgood, 2015. "Hiding in plain sight: a study on camouflage and habitat selection in a slow-moving desert herbivore," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 26(5), pages 1389-1394.
    5. Alyssa S Hess & Andrew J Wismer & Corey J Bohil & Mark B Neider, 2016. "On the Hunt: Searching for Poorly Defined Camouflaged Targets," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-18, March.
    6. Dylan H N Thomas & Karin Kjernsmo & Nicholas E Scott-Samuel & Heather M Whitney & Innes C Cuthill, 2023. "Interactions between color and gloss in iridescent camouflage," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 34(5), pages 751-758.
    7. Ossi Nokelainen & Sanni A. Silvasti & Sharon Y. Strauss & Niklas Wahlberg & Johanna Mappes, 2024. "Predator selection on phenotypic variability of cryptic and aposematic moths," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    8. Kaori Tsurui & Atsushi Honma & Takayoshi Nishida, 2010. "Camouflage Effects of Various Colour-Marking Morphs against Different Microhabitat Backgrounds in a Polymorphic Pygmy Grasshopper Tetrix japonica," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(7), pages 1-7, July.

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