The coevolution of warning signals

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Thomas N Sherratt

Abstract

It has long been recognized that defended prey tend to be conspicuous. Current theories suggest that the association ('aposematism') has arisen because predators more readily learn to avoid attacking defended phenotypes when they are conspicuous. In this paper, I consider why such psychology has evolved. In particular, I argue that aposematism may have evolved not because of an independent and pre-existing receiver bias, but because the conspicuousness of a prey item provides a reliable indicator of its likelihood of being defended. To develop my case I consider how warning signals might coevolve in a system containing a number of predators, whose foraging behaviour is also subject to selection. In these cases, models readily show that the greater the conspicuousness of a novel prey item, the more likely that it has been encountered by other predators and survived. As a consequence, naive predators should be less likely to attack highly conspicuous novel prey on encounter, or at least more inclined to attack them cautiously. This adaptive predator behaviour will greatly facilitate the spread of aposematic phenotypes from extreme rarity, which in turn will enhance selection for forms of predator behaviour under which aposematism...Continue Reading

References

Jun 21, 1990·Journal of Theoretical Biology·A Grafen
Jan 1, 1988·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·M P LeungJ R Zuberbuhler
Oct 22, 1996·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·G Gamberale, B S Tullberg
May 18, 1999·Animal Behaviour·C Rowe, T Guilford
Aug 10, 2000·Journal of Theoretical Biology·M Archetti
Aug 11, 2000·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·M R Servedio
Sep 29, 2000·Animal Behaviour·M P Speed
Feb 15, 2001·Animal Behaviour·Michael P. Speed
Mar 29, 2001·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·L LindströmJ Mappes
Apr 4, 1975·Science·L P Brower, S C Glazier
Sep 1, 1983·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Birgitta Sillén-Tullberg, Edwin H Bryant
Mar 1, 1976·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Thomas C Boyden
Apr 1, 1993·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Tim Guilford, Marian Stamp Dawkins

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 19, 2004·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Daniel W Franks, Jason Noble
Mar 1, 2005·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Michael P Speed, Graeme D Ruxton
May 13, 2005·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Rachel A Page, Michael J Ryan
Oct 26, 2005·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Thomas N Sherratt, Daniel W Franks
Nov 21, 2008·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Jonathan D BlountPhilip A Stephens
Sep 24, 2010·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Paola LaioloYari Roggia
Aug 21, 2012·Frontiers in Zoology·J Manuel Vidal-CorderoF Javier Ortiz-Sánchez
Oct 22, 2003·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Kyle Summers
Oct 29, 2003·The American Naturalist·Thomas N Sherratt, Christopher D Beatty
Jun 17, 2015·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·K SummersA M M Stuckert
Dec 13, 2006·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Sami Merilaita, Graeme D Ruxton
Sep 3, 2005·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Nicola M MarplesRobert J Thomas
Oct 25, 2003·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·S N Patek, T H Oakley
Mar 11, 2006·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Michael P Speed, Graeme D Ruxton
Mar 14, 2007·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Michael P Speed, Graeme D Ruxton
Jan 30, 2013·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Ossi NokelainenJohanna Mappes
Aug 19, 2014·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Michael P Speed, Daniel W Franks
Oct 10, 2013·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·David R NelsenWilliam K Hayes
Jul 6, 2010·Ecology Letters·Michael P SpeedPhilip A Stephens
Mar 30, 2016·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Bibiana Rojas
Mar 29, 2002·Nature·Mike Speed, Graeme D Ruxton
Oct 15, 2018·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·Emmanuelle S BriolatMartin Stevens
Jan 24, 2007·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Mikael Puurtinen, Veijo Kaitala
Mar 28, 2009·Reproduction in Domestic Animals = Zuchthygiene·J Wolf
Oct 15, 2019·Evolutionary Anthropology·Laís A A MoreiraAmanda D Melin
Aug 29, 2018·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Emmanuelle S BriolatAdam M M Stuckert
Mar 6, 2007·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Sarah G BrownJayne E Yack
Dec 6, 2005·The Journal of Experimental Biology·John M Ratcliffe, James H Fullard

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The American Naturalist
Thomas N Sherratt, Christopher D Beatty
Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
Nicola M MarplesRobert J Thomas
Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
Daniel W FranksThomas N Sherratt
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Michael P Speed, Graeme D Ruxton
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved