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Muñoz-Amezcua CE, Tapia-McClung H, Rao D. When a glimpse is enough: Partial mimicry of jumping spiders by insects. Behav Processes 2023; 213:104956. [PMID: 37805082 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Many flies and moths mimic the frontal appearance of jumping spiders. This type of mimicry, which we term as partial mimicry, can be distinguished from Batesian mimicry since the mimic has spider resembling patterns only in certain parts of the body, and not the entire body. The presence of spider-like patterns is obvious only at certain angles suggesting that the mimic is frequently targeted by its predators from particular angles. We tested this hypothesis using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNNs). First, we trained the network on images of forward facing jumping spiders, where features such as the large principal eyes, small lateral eyes and outstretched legs were evident. Then we tested the classifier on images of jumping spider mimicking flies and moths. A probability value according to the likelihood of the image being a jumping spider or not was assigned by the classifier. We show that the classifier was more likely to misidentify mimicking flies and moths as jumping spiders, but that this probability varied according to the species tested. We further tested it on images of flies from different angles and by taking into consideration the visual acuity of potential predators. Our results suggest that neural networks can be efficient tools for testing evolutionary hypotheses, and that partial mimicry may be a result of the effect of the signaling angle and orientation of the mimics in combination with the likelihood that predators may depend on cognitive shortcuts to identify insects as prey. Further experiments incorporating the properties of the visual system of predators (such as vision in ultraviolet) would result in a better understanding of the evolution of partial mimicry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos E Muñoz-Amezcua
- Wolfram Alpha LLC, Champaign, IL, USA; Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Horacio Tapia-McClung
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Inteligencia Artificial, Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico
| | - Dinesh Rao
- Instituto de Biotecnologia y Ecologia Aplicada, Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico.
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2
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McCoy DE, Shneidman AV, Davis AL, Aizenberg J. Finite-difference Time-domain (FDTD) Optical Simulations: A Primer for the Life Sciences and Bio-Inspired Engineering. Micron 2021; 151:103160. [PMID: 34678583 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2021.103160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Light influences most ecosystems on earth, from sun-dappled forests to bioluminescent creatures in the ocean deep. Biologists have long studied nano- and micro-scale organismal adaptations to manipulate light using ever-more sophisticated microscopy, spectroscopy, and other analytical equipment. In combination with experimental tools, simulations of light interacting with objects can help researchers determine the impact of observed structures and explore how variations affect optical function. In particular, the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is widely used throughout the nanophotonics community to efficiently simulate light interacting with a variety of materials and optical devices. More recently, FDTD has been used to characterize optical adaptations in nature, such as camouflage in fish and other organisms, colors in sexually-selected birds and spiders, and photosynthetic efficiency in plants. FDTD is also common in bioengineering, as the design of biologically-inspired engineered structures can be guided and optimized through FDTD simulations. Parameter sweeps are a particularly useful application of FDTD, which allows researchers to explore a range of variables and modifications in natural and synthetic systems (e.g., to investigate the optical effects of changing the sizes, shape, or refractive indices of a structure). Here, we review the use of FDTD simulations in biology and present a brief methods primer tailored for life scientists, with a focus on the commercially available software Lumerical FDTD. We give special attention to whether FDTD is the right tool to use, how experimental techniques are used to acquire and import the structures of interest, and how their optical properties such as refractive index and absorption are obtained. This primer is intended to help researchers understand FDTD, implement the method to model optical effects, and learn about the benefits and limitations of this tool. Altogether, FDTD is well-suited to (i) characterize optical adaptations and (ii) provide mechanistic explanations; by doing so, it helps (iii) make conclusions about evolutionary theory and (iv) inspire new technologies based on natural structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota E McCoy
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Anna V Shneidman
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 9 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
| | - Alexander L Davis
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Campus Box 90338, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Joanna Aizenberg
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 9 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
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3
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Green PA, McHenry MJ, Rico-Guevara A. Mechanoethology: The Physical Mechanisms of Behavior. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:613-623. [PMID: 34124767 PMCID: PMC8427180 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Research that integrates animal behavior theory with mechanics-including biomechanics, physiology, and functional morphology-can reveal how organisms accomplish tasks crucial to their fitness. Despite the insights that can be gained from this interdisciplinary approach, biomechanics commonly neglects a behavioral context and behavioral research generally does not consider mechanics. Here, we aim to encourage the study of "mechanoethology," an area of investigation intended to encompass integrative studies of mechanics and behavior. Using examples from the literature, including papers in this issue, we show how these fields can influence each other in three ways: (1) the energy required to execute behaviors is driven by the kinematics of movement, and mechanistic studies of movement can benefit from consideration of its behavioral context; (2) mechanics sets physical limits on what behaviors organisms execute, while behavior influences ecological and evolutionary limits on mechanical systems; and (3) sensory behavior is underlain by the mechanics of sensory structures, and sensory systems guide whole-organism movement. These core concepts offer a foundation for mechanoethology research. However, future studies focused on merging behavior and mechanics may reveal other ways by which these fields are linked, leading to further insights in integrative organismal biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Green
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - M J McHenry
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - A Rico-Guevara
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
- Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
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Hoke KL, Hensley N, Kanwal JK, Wasserman S, Morehouse NI. Spatio-Temporal Dynamics in Animal Communication: A Special Issue Arising from a Unique Workshop-Symposium Model. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:783-786. [PMID: 34215880 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Investigating how animals navigate space and time is key to understanding communication. Small differences in spatial positioning or timing can mean the difference between a message received and a missed connection. However, these spatio-temporal dynamics are often overlooked or are subject to simplifying assumptions in investigations of animal signaling. This special issue addresses this significant knowledge gap by integrating work from researchers with disciplinary backgrounds in neuroscience, cognitive ecology, sensory ecology, computer science, evolutionary biology, animal behavior, and philosophy. This introduction to the special issue outlines the novel questions and approaches that will advance our understanding of spatio-temporal dynamics of animal communication. We highlight papers that consider the evolution of spatiotemporal dynamics of behavior across sensory modalities and social contexts. We summarize contributions that address the neural and physiological mechanisms in senders and receivers that shape communication. We then turn to papers that introduce cutting edge technologies that will revolutionize our ability to track spatio-temporal dynamics of individuals during social encounters. The interdisciplinary collaborations that gave rise to these papers emerged in part from a novel workshop-symposium model, which we briefly summarize for those interested in fostering syntheses across disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim L Hoke
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - Nicholai Hensley
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Jessleen K Kanwal
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Sara Wasserman
- Neuroscience Department, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02481
| | - Nathan I Morehouse
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221
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Nelson XJ, Pratt AJ, Aluoch SA, Jackson RR. Effects of phytochemicals on predatory decision making in a spider. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Echeverri SA, Miller AE, Chen J, McQueen EW, Plakke M, Spicer M, Hoke KL, Stoddard MC, Morehouse NI. How signaling geometry shapes the efficacy and evolution of animal communication systems. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:787-813. [PMID: 34021338 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal communication is inherently spatial. Both signal transmission and signal reception have spatial biases-involving direction, distance and position-that interact to determine signaling efficacy. Signals, be they visual, acoustic, or chemical, are often highly directional. Likewise, receivers may only be able to detect signals if they arrive from certain directions. Alignment between these directional biases is therefore critical for effective communication, with even slight misalignments disrupting perception of signaled information. In addition, signals often degrade as they travel from signaler to receiver, and environmental conditions that impact transmission can vary over even small spatiotemporal scales. Thus, how animals position themselves during communication is likely to be under strong selection. Despite this, our knowledge regarding the spatial arrangements of signalers and receivers during communication remains surprisingly coarse for most systems. We know even less about how signaler and receiver behaviors contribute to effective signaling alignment over time, or how signals themselves may have evolved to influence and/or respond to these aspects of animal communication. Here, we first describe why researchers should adopt a more explicitly geometric view of animal signaling, including issues of location, direction, and distance. We then describe how environmental and social influences introduce further complexities to the geometry of signaling. We discuss how multimodality offers new challenges and opportunities for signalers and receivers. We conclude with recommendations and future directions made visible by attention to the geometry of signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Audrey E Miller
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
| | - Jason Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.,Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Eden W McQueen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Melissa Plakke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
| | - Michelle Spicer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.,Biology Department, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA
| | - Kim L Hoke
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | | | - Nathan I Morehouse
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
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Jumping spiders: An exceptional group for comparative cognition studies. Learn Behav 2021; 49:276-291. [PMID: 33443650 DOI: 10.3758/s13420-020-00445-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Several non-mutually exclusive hypotheses have been proposed to explain the evolution of cognition in animals. Broadly, these hypotheses fall under two categories: those that pertain to the selective pressures exerted either by sociality or by the ecological niche in which animals live. We review these ideas and then discuss why the highly visual jumping spiders (Salticidae) are excellent models for investigating how cognitive ability evolves. With few exceptions, these behaviorally complex spiders are non-social, making them ideal candidates to explore ideas pertaining to selection based on habitat complexity and selection based on predatory behavior (foraging niche hypotheses). With the exception of Antarctica, salticids are found in all habitats on Earth, ranging from very complex to barren and simple. While many species are generalist predators, a minority also have specialized predatory behavior and prey specialization on dangerous prey, which has been proposed as an explanation for advanced cognitive ability. As this large group has a diversity of habitats in which it lives, diverse predatory behavior, as well as some "social" species, we argue that salticids are ideal candidates for comparative studies to explore the myriad selection factors acting upon a group well known for their cognitive prowess, despite having miniature brains.
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McCoy DE, McCoy VE, Mandsberg NK, Shneidman AV, Aizenberg J, Prum RO, Haig D. Structurally assisted super black in colourful peacock spiders. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 286:20190589. [PMID: 31088270 PMCID: PMC6532503 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Male peacock spiders (Maratus, Salticidae) compete to attract female mates using elaborate, sexually selected displays. They evolved both brilliant colour and velvety black. Here, we use scanning electron microscopy, hyperspectral imaging and finite-difference time-domain optical modelling to investigate the deep black surfaces of peacock spiders. We found that super black regions reflect less than 0.5% of light (for a 30° collection angle) in Maratus speciosus (0.44%) and Maratus karrie (0.35%) owing to microscale structures. Both species evolved unusually high, tightly packed cuticular bumps (microlens arrays), and M. karrie has an additional dense covering of black brush-like scales atop the cuticle. Our optical models show that the radius and height of spider microlenses achieve a balance between (i) decreased surface reflectance and (ii) enhanced melanin absorption (through multiple scattering, diffraction out of the acceptance cone of female eyes and increased path length of light through absorbing melanin pigments). The birds of paradise (Paradiseidae), ecological analogues of peacock spiders, also evolved super black near bright colour patches. Super black locally eliminates white specular highlights, reference points used to calibrate colour perception, making nearby colours appear brighter, even luminous, to vertebrates. We propose that this pre-existing, qualitative sensory experience—‘sensory bias’—is also found in spiders, leading to the convergent evolution of super black for mating displays in jumping spiders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota E McCoy
- 1 Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University , 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
| | - Victoria E McCoy
- 2 Steinmann-Institut für Geologie, Mineralogie und Paläontologie, Universität Bonn , Nussallee 8, 53115 Bonn , Germany
| | - Nikolaj K Mandsberg
- 3 Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Kongens Lyngby , Denmark.,4 John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University , 9 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
| | - Anna V Shneidman
- 4 John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University , 9 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
| | - Joanna Aizenberg
- 4 John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University , 9 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA.,5 Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University , 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA , USA.,6 Kavli Institute for Bionano Science and Technology, Harvard University , 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA , USA
| | - Richard O Prum
- 7 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University , New Haven, CT 06511 , USA
| | - David Haig
- 1 Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University , 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
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Simpson RK, McGraw KJ. Experimental trait mismatches uncover specificity of evolutionary links between multiple signaling traits and their interactions in hummingbirds*. Evolution 2018; 73:436-451. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard K. Simpson
- School of Life Sciences Arizona State University Tempe Arizona 85287
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Windsor Windsor Ontario N9B 3P4 Canada
| | - Kevin J. McGraw
- School of Life Sciences Arizona State University Tempe Arizona 85287
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Hogan BG, Stoddard MC. Synchronization of speed, sound and iridescent color in a hummingbird aerial courtship dive. Nat Commun 2018; 9:5260. [PMID: 30563977 PMCID: PMC6299134 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07562-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Many animal signals are complex, often combining multimodal components with dynamic motion. To understand the function and evolution of these displays, it is vital to appreciate their spatiotemporal organization. Male broad-tailed hummingbirds (Selasphorus platycercus) perform dramatic U-shaped courtship dives over females, appearing to combine rapid movement and dive-specific mechanical noises with visual signals from their iridescent gorgets. To understand how motion, sound and color interact in these spectacular displays, we obtained video and audio recordings of dives performed by wild hummingbirds. We then applied a multi-angle imaging technique to estimate how a female would perceive the male's iridescent gorget throughout the dive. We show that the key physical, acoustic and visual aspects of the dive are remarkably synchronized-all occurring within 300 milliseconds. Our results highlight the critical importance of accounting for motion and orientation when investigating animal displays: speed and trajectory affect how multisensory signals are produced and perceived.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedict G Hogan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.,Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Crested Butte, CO, 81224, USA
| | - Mary Caswell Stoddard
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA. .,Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Crested Butte, CO, 81224, USA.
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Simpson RK, McGraw KJ. It's not just what you have, but how you use it: solar-positional and behavioural effects on hummingbird colour appearance during courtship. Ecol Lett 2018; 21:1413-1422. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.13125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard K. Simpson
- School of Life Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe AZ 85287-4501 USA
| | - Kevin J. McGraw
- School of Life Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe AZ 85287-4501 USA
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