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Vasas V, Lowell MC, Villa J, Jamison QD, Siegle AG, Katta PKR, Bhagavathula P, Kevan PG, Fulton D, Losin N, Kepplinger D, Yetzbacher MK, Salehian S, Forkner RE, Hanley D. Recording animal-view videos of the natural world using a novel camera system and software package. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002444. [PMID: 38261631 PMCID: PMC10805291 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Plants, animals, and fungi display a rich tapestry of colors. Animals, in particular, use colors in dynamic displays performed in spatially complex environments. Although current approaches for studying colors are objective and repeatable, they miss the temporal variation of color signals entirely. Here, we introduce hardware and software that provide ecologists and filmmakers the ability to accurately record animal-perceived colors in motion. Specifically, our Python codes transform photos or videos into perceivable units (quantum catches) for animals of known photoreceptor sensitivity. The plans and codes necessary for end-users to capture animal-view videos are all open source and publicly available to encourage continual community development. The camera system and the associated software package will allow ecologists to investigate how animals use colors in dynamic behavioral displays, the ways natural illumination alters perceived colors, and other questions that remained unaddressed until now due to a lack of suitable tools. Finally, it provides scientists and filmmakers with a new, empirically grounded approach for depicting the perceptual worlds of nonhuman animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Vasas
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark C. Lowell
- Theorem Engine, Alexandria, Virginia, United States of America
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Juliana Villa
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Quentin D. Jamison
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Anna G. Siegle
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Pavan Kumar Reddy Katta
- Department of Computer Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Pushyami Bhagavathula
- Department of Computer Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Peter G. Kevan
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Drew Fulton
- Drew Fulton Photography, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Neil Losin
- Day’s Edge Productions, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - David Kepplinger
- Department of Statistics, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
| | | | - Shakiba Salehian
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Rebecca E. Forkner
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Daniel Hanley
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
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Eyster HN, Satterfield T, Chan KMA. Empirical examples demonstrate how relational thinking might enrich science and practice. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Harold N. Eyster
- Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- Gund Institute for Environment University of Vermont Burlington Vermont USA
| | - Terre Satterfield
- Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Kai M. A. Chan
- Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
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Mesken J, Beckmann C, McDonald PG. A simple methodology for creating and applying replicable, photograph‐accurate coloration to
3D
‐printed models for animal behavior studies. Ethology 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jarrod Mesken
- Centre for Behavioral and Physiological Ecology, Zoology University of New England Armidale New South Wales Australia
| | - Christa Beckmann
- Centre for Behavioral and Physiological Ecology, Zoology University of New England Armidale New South Wales Australia
- School of Science Western Sydney University Penrith New South Wales Australia
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment Western Sydney University Penrith New South Wales Australia
| | - Paul G. McDonald
- Centre for Behavioral and Physiological Ecology, Zoology University of New England Armidale New South Wales Australia
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Experimental evidence that adult UV/yellow colouration functions as a signal in blue tit families — but only for parents. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03145-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
In bi-parental species, reproduction is not only a crucial life-history stage where individuals must take fitness-related decisions, but these decisions also need to be adjusted to the behavioural strategies of other individuals. Hence, communication is required, which could be facilitated by informative signals. Yet, these signalling traits might have (co-)evolved in multiple contexts, as various family members usually meet and interact during reproduction. In this study, we experimentally explored for the first time whether a colourful plumage trait in adults acts as a signal that regulates multiple intra-family interactions in a bird species, the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). We expected that an experimental reduction of adults’ UV/yellow reflectance (i.e. a reduction of apparent individual quality) should affect the behavioural strategies of all family members. We found evidence for this at least in adults, since the partners of UV-blocked individuals (either males or females) increased their parental investment — perhaps to compensate for the apparent lower condition of their mates. As the UV-blocked adult did not change its provisioning behaviour, the partner presumably responded to the manipulated signal and not to a behavioural change. However, the offspring did not co-adjust their begging intensity to the experimental treatment. It is thus possible that they responded to overall parental care rather than the signal. These results suggest that UV/yellow colouration of adult blue tits may act as quality signal revealing the rearing capacity to mates.
Significance statement
How parents respond to signals of genetic or phenotypic quality of their mates has received significant attention. However, previous studies have primarily focused on the receiver’s response and have not always controlled for the signaller’s behaviour and its investment in reproduction. Our results provide the first experimental evidence that ultraviolet (UV)/yellow colouration acts as a signal of parental quality in the blue tit. Parents responded by increasing their effort when paired with UV-blocked (low-quality) mates, while controlling for the mate’s behaviour. We argue that the reduced expression of the signal triggered a compensatory response in the mate. Interestingly, both males and females responded similarly to changes in mate’s UV/yellow reflectance, suggesting similar rules over investment in response to this trait. However, nestlings, a potential (and often neglected) set of observers of parental signals, did not change their behaviour when raised by an UV-blocked (= low-quality) parent.
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Samaš P, Hauber ME, Honza M. A Meta-Analysis of Avian Egg Traits Cueing Egg-Rejection Defenses Against Brood Parasitism. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.703208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The capability of hosts to reject the odd egg from their nest is one of the key defenses against avian brood parasitism. Considerable research effort has been devoted to exploring which phenotypic traits of eggshells facilitate to cue the recognition of the parasitic egg. Here we have reviewed studies addressing salient egg traits involved in the rejection of foreign eggs and used a formal meta-analysis to quantify their relative importance. Hosts appear to rely to a large extent on eggshell color traits, followed by maculation patterns. Hosts respond with similar rates of egg rejection to natural vs. model eggs and when breeding in both closed and open nests. Analyses of experiments on hosts of Cuculus and Molothrus parasites, the two best studied brood parasitic lineages with different co-evolutionary histories, yield similar conclusions. We also identify several poorly studied potential egg recognition cues, such as odor or weight, and recommend exploring even the visual traits in more detail, including chromatic and achromatic contrasts or experimentally manipulated egg maculation characteristics. Recent technological and sensory ecological advances open many new research avenues to experimentally examine the role of diverse egg characteristics in antiparasite defenses.
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Kane SA, Wang Y, Fang R, Lu Y, Dakin R. How conspicuous are peacock eyespots and other colorful feathers in the eyes of mammalian predators? PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210924. [PMID: 31017903 PMCID: PMC6481771 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorful feathers have long been assumed to be conspicuous to predators, and hence likely to incur costs due to enhanced predation risk. However, many mammals that prey on birds have dichromatic visual systems with only two types of color-sensitive visual receptors, rather than the three and four photoreceptors characteristic of humans and most birds, respectively. Here, we use a combination of multispectral imaging, reflectance spectroscopy, color vision modelling and visual texture analysis to compare the visual signals available to conspecifics and to mammalian predators from multicolored feathers from the Indian peacock (Pavo cristatus), as well as red and yellow parrot feathers. We also model the effects of distance-dependent blurring due to visual acuity. When viewed by birds against green vegetation, most of the feathers studied are estimated to have color and brightness contrasts similar to values previously found for ripe fruit. On the other hand, for dichromat mammalian predators, visual contrasts for these feathers were only weakly detectable and often below detection thresholds for typical viewing distances. We also show that for dichromat mammal vision models, the peacock's train has below-detection threshold color and brightness contrasts and visual textures that match various foliage backgrounds. These findings are consistent with many feathers of similar hue to those studied here being inconspicuous, and in some cases potentially cryptic, in the eyes of common mammalian predators of adult birds. Given that birds perform many conspicuous motions and behaviors, this study suggests that mammalian predators are more likely to use other sensory modalities (e.g., motion detection, hearing, and olfaction), rather than color vision, to detect avian prey. This suggests new directions for future behavioral studies and emphasizes the importance of understanding the influence of the sensory ecology of predators in the evolution of animal coloration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Amador Kane
- Physics & Astronomy Department, Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Yuchao Wang
- Physics & Astronomy Department, Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Rui Fang
- Physics & Astronomy Department, Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Yabin Lu
- Physics & Astronomy Department, Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Roslyn Dakin
- Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington DC, United States of America
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Wilts BD, Vignolini S. Living light: optics, ecology and design principles of natural photonic structures. Interface Focus 2019; 9:20180071. [PMCID: PMC6304005 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2018.0071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bodo D. Wilts
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Vignolini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
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