Selection for evasive mimicry imposed by an arthropod predator.

ABSTRACT: It has long been hypothesized that a species that is relatively easy to catch by predators may face selection to resemble a species that is harder to catch. Several experiments using avian predators have since supported this 'evasive mimicry' hypothesis. However, the sudden movement of artificial evasive prey in each of the above experiments may have startled the predators, generating an avoidance response unrelated to difficulty of capture. Additionally in the above experiments the catchability of prey was all or nothing, while in nature predators may occasionally catch evasive prey or fail to catch slower species, which might inhibit learning. Here, using mantids as predators, we conducted an experimental test of the evasive mimicry hypothesis that circumvents these limitations, using li

SUBMITTER: Loeffler-Henry K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10762431 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature