Colour change and camouflage in coastal benthic crustaceans: occurrence, selective pressures and ecological function

• Grant number: 19/01934-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2019
• End date: January 01, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Gustavo Muniz Dias
• Grantee: Rafael Campos Duarte
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/00946-0 - Adapting to a changing world: how variability in predation risk and in the availability of new habitats affect colour change and camouflage in chameleon prawns (Hippolyte varians)?, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Colour change is a common process shaping animal appearance and promoting camouflage in nature. However, the relationship between colour plasticity and camouflage in the reduction of predation risks, as well as the selective pressures and the evolutionary mechanisms involved, are normally explored in a few taxonomic groups. Benthic crustaceans are interesting biological models to answer these pending questions, since they exhibit considerable intra and interspecific colour variation and inhabit a diversity of habitats, possibly requiring distinct camouflage strategies. In this proposal, I will explore three main questions related to camouflage through colour change using benthic crabs and prawns as biological models: (i) how camouflage and colour change vary among crabs living on different coastal habitats, possibly requiring different camouflage strategies? (ii) how different levels of predation pressure over macroalgal banks affect coloration and camouflage of two algal-dwelling crustacean species? (iii) how colour change can be important for camouflage adjustment and survival of algal-dwelling prawns? Here, I will use a combination of field sampling and experiments, both in the field and laboratory, as well as methods of image analysis and visual modelling to answer those questions. The present project has the potential to instigate a more integrated understanding on the ecological and evolutionary consequences of colour change, as a means for camouflage, in natural systems. (AU)

Scientific publications

(11)

(The scientific publications listed on this page originate from the Web of Science or SciELO databases. Their authors have cited FAPESP grant or fellowship project numbers awarded to Principal Investigators or Fellowship Recipients, whether or not they are among the authors. This information is collected automatically and retrieved directly from those bibliometric databases.)

DUARTE, RAFAEL C.; WADE, NICHOLAS M.; STEVENS, MARTIN. Animal colour change: proximate mechanisms, evolutionary ecology and response to anthropogenic impacts. Journal of Experimental Biology, v. 228, n. 11, p. 17-pg., 2025-06-01. (22/00946-0, 19/01934-3)

JOAO, MARCIO CAMARGO ARAUJO; DUARTE, RAFAEL CAMPOS; FREIRE, ANDREA SANTAROSA; KRIEGLER, NICHOLAS; PINHEIRO, MARCELO ANTONIO AMARO. Population biology of the endangered land crab Johngarthia lagostoma (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) in the Trindade Island, Brazil: Identifying crucial areas for future conservation strategies. MARINE ECOLOGY-AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE, v. 45, n. 1, p. 11-pg., 2023-10-23. (19/01934-3, 19/16581-9)

VIANA, JOAO VITOR DE ALCANTARA; DUARTE, RAFAEL CAMPOS; LAMBERTINI, CAROLINA; CAPOCCIA, FELIPE; MARTINS, ANNA LUIZA OLIVEIRA; VIEIRA, CAMILA; ROMERO, GUSTAVO QUEVEDO. Differential Survival and Background Selection in Cryptic Trunk-Dwelling Arthropods in Fire-Prone Environments. American Naturalist, v. 204, n. 6, p. 18-pg., 2024-12-01. (19/01934-3, 22/00946-0, 19/08474-8)

DE ALCANTARA VIANA, JOAO VITOR; DUARTE, RAFAEL CAMPOS; VIEIRA, CAMILA; ANTIQUEIRA, PABLO AUGUSTO POLETO; BACH, ANDRESSA; DE MELLO, GABRIEL; SILVA, LORHAINE; LEAL, CAMILA RABELO OLIVEIRA; ROMERO, GUSTAVO QUEVEDO. Crypsis by background matching and disruptive coloration as drivers of substrate occupation in sympatric Amazonian bark praying mantises. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 13, n. 1, p. 15-pg., 2023-11-15. (22/10765-3, 19/08474-8, 19/01934-3, 17/26243-8, 22/00946-0)

HERNAEZ, PATRICIO; VILLEGAS-CASTRO, ERICK; JOAO, MARCIO CAMARGO ARAUJO; DUARTE, RAFAEL CAMPOS; RIVADENEIRA, MARCELO M.. Inferring the mating system in the burrowing shrimp Lepidophthalmus bocourti (Decapoda, Axiidea, Callichiridae) from the social structure and sexual dimorphism. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY, v. 75, n. 6, JUN 2021. (19/01934-3, 19/16581-9)

MIZRAHI, DAMIAN; DUARTE, RAFAEL C.; KITAHARA, MARCELO V.; FLORES, AUGUSTO A. V.. Interactions between invaders: facilitation of boring bivalves leads to reduced adhesive strength of sun corals. CORAL REEFS, v. N/A, p. 9-pg., 2023-02-27. (21/06866-6, 19/01934-3, 17/04904-2)

FIGUEIREDO, CARLA K.; DUARTE, RAFAEL C.; FLORES, V, AUGUSTO A.. Ecosystem functioning of canopy- and turf-forming algae: contrasting supply of invertebrate prey to pelagic consumers. MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES, v. 647, p. 79-92, AUG 13 2020. (19/01934-3, 18/11044-2)

DUARTE, RAFAEL C.; RYAN, BEKS; DIAS, GUSTAVO M.; STEVENS, MARTIN. Adaptation in the Anthropocene: How behavioural choice and colour change enables chameleon prawns to camouflage on non-native seaweeds. Journal of Animal Ecology, v. N/A, p. 14-pg., 2024-11-04. (19/01934-3, 22/00946-0)

JOAO, MARCIO C. A.; DUARTE, RAFAEL C.; FREIRE, ANDREA S.; PINHEIRO, MARCELO A. A.. Intraspecific color diversity and camouflage associated with ontogeny in an insular land crab. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY, v. 77, n. 11, p. 15-pg., 2023-11-01. (19/01934-3, 22/00946-0, 19/16581-9)

JOAO, MARCIO C. A.; DUARTE, RAFAEL C.; DA SILVA, LETICIA S. BISPO; FREIRE, ANDREA S.; PINHEIRO, MARCELO A. A.. Sexual Maturity of an Endemic Insular Land Crab: Priority Information toward the Conservation of Johngarthia lagostoma. BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN, v. N/A, p. 14-pg., 2022-08-01. (19/16581-9, 19/01934-3)

DUARTE, RAFAEL C.; DIAS, GUSTAVO M.; FLORES, V, AUGUSTO A.; STEVENS, MARTIN. Different ontogenetic trajectories of body colour, pattern and crypsis in two sympatric intertidal crab species. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 132, n. 1, p. 17-31, JAN 2021. (19/01934-3, 15/22258-5, 19/15628-1)