Interactions between color and gloss in iridescent camouflage.

ABSTRACT: Iridescence is a taxonomically widespread form of structural coloration that produces often intense hues that change with the angle of viewing. Its role as a signal has been investigated in multiple species, but recently, and counter-intuitively, it has been shown that it can function as camouflage. However, the property of iridescence that reduces detectability is, as yet, unclear. As viewing angle changes, iridescent objects change not only in hue but also in intensity, and many iridescent animals are also shiny or glossy; these "specular reflections," both from the target and background, have been implicated in crypsis. Here, we present a field experiment with natural avian predators that separate the relative contributions of color and gloss to the "survival" of iridescent and non-irid

SUBMITTER: Thomas DHN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10516679 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep-Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature