Orientation to the sun by animals and its interaction with crypsis.

ABSTRACT: Orientation with respect to the sun has been observed in a wide range of species and has generally been interpreted in terms of thermoregulation and/or ultraviolet (UV) protection. For countershaded animals, orientation with respect to the sun may also result from the pressure to exploit the gradient of coloration optimally to enhance crypsis.Here, we use computational modelling to predict the optimal countershading pattern for an oriented body. We assess how camouflage performance declines as orientation varies using a computational model that incorporates realistic lighting environments.Once an optimal countershading pattern for crypsis has been chosen, we determine separately how UV protection/irradiation and solar thermal inflow fluctuate with orientation.We show that body orientations

SUBMITTER: Penacchio O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4758631 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature