10.5061/DRYAD.N6T2C
Troscianko, Jolyon
University of Exeter
Lown, Alice E.
University of Exeter
Hughes, Anna E.
University of Cambridge
Stevens, Martin
University of Exeter
Data from: Defeating crypsis: detection and learning of camouflage strategies
Dryad
dataset
2013
distractive markings
camouflage
background matching
disruptive camouflage
moth camouflage
predator learning
2013-09-12T13:45:09Z
2013-09-12T13:45:09Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0073733
4576256 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Camouflage is perhaps the most widespread defence against predators in
nature and an active area of interdisciplinary research. Recent work has
aimed to understand what camouflage types exist (e.g. background matching,
disruptive, and distractive patterns) and their effectiveness. However,
work has almost exclusively focused on the efficacy of these strategies in
preventing initial detection, despite the fact that predators often
encounter the same prey phenotype repeatedly, affording them opportunities
to learn to find those prey more effectively. The overall value of a
camouflage strategy may, therefore, reflect both its ability to prevent
detection by predators and resist predator learning. We conducted four
experiments with humans searching for hidden targets of different
camouflage types (disruptive, distractive, and background matching of
various contrast levels) over a series of touch screen trials. As with
previous work, disruptive coloration was the most successful method of
concealment overall, especially with relatively high contrast patterns,
whereas potentially distractive markings were either neutral or costly.
However, high contrast patterns incurred faster decreases in detection
times over trials compared to other stimuli. In addition, potentially
distractive markings were sometimes learnt more slowly than background
matching markings, despite being found more readily overall. Finally,
learning effects were highly dependent upon the experimental paradigm,
including the number of prey types seen and whether subjects encountered
targets simultaneously or sequentially. Our results show that the survival
advantage of camouflage strategies reflects both their ability to avoid
initial detection (sensory mechanisms) and predator learning (perceptual
mechanisms).
Capture timesCapture times for all experiments (1,2,3,4A,4B,4C),
containing all data used for statistical analysis.DryadUploadedResults.xls