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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Colour change and behavioural choice facilitate chameleon prawn camouflage against different seaweed backgrounds

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Author(s):
Green, Samuel D. [1] ; Duarte, Rafael C. [2, 3] ; Kellett, Emily [1] ; Alagaratnam, Natasha [1] ; Stevens, Martin [1]
Total Authors: 5
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Exeter, Ctr Ecol & Conservat, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, Cornwall - England
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Biol Marinha, BR-11612109 Sao Sebastiao - Brazil
[3] Univ Fed ABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humanas, BR-09606045 Sao Bernardo Do Campo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY; v. 2, JUN 21 2019.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

Camouflage is driven by matching the visual environment, yet natural habitats are rarely uniform and comprise many backgrounds. Therefore, species often exhibit adaptive traits to maintain crypsis, including colour change and behavioural choice of substrates. However, previous work largely considered these solutions in isolation, whereas many species may use a combination of behaviour and appearance to facilitate concealment. Here we show that green and red chameleon prawns (Hippolyte varians) closely resemble their associated sea-weed substrates to the vision of predatory fish, and that they can change colour to effectively match new backgrounds. Prawns also select colour-matching substrates when offered a choice. However, colour change occurs over weeks, consistent with seasonal changes in algal cover, whereas behavioural choice of matching substrates occurs in the short-term, facilitating matches within heterogeneous environments. We demonstrate how colour change and behaviour combine to facilitate camouflage against different substrates in environments varying spatially and temporally. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 15/04484-8 - Camouflage by background matching and disruptive colouration in the polymorphic shrimp species Hippolyte obliquimanus
Grantee:Rafael Campos Duarte
Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate