Evolutionary fine-tuning of background-matching camouflage among geographical populations in the sandy beach tiger beetle.

ABSTRACT: Background-matching camouflage is a widespread adaptation in animals; however, few studies have thoroughly examined its evolutionary process and consequences. The tiger beetle Chaetodera laetescripta exhibits pronounced variation in elytral colour pattern among sandy habitats of different colour in the Japanese Archipelago. In this study, we performed digital image analysis with avian vision modelling to demonstrate that elytral luminance, which is attributed to proportions of elytral colour components, is fine-tuned to match local backgrounds. Field predation experiments with model beetles showed that better luminance matching resulted in a lower attack rate and corresponding lower mortality. Using restriction site-associated DNA (RAD) sequence data, we analysed the dispersal and e

SUBMITTER: Yamamoto N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7779511 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature