Journal article
Differences in signal contrast and camouflage among different colour variations of a stomatopod crustacean, Neogonodactylus oerstedii
Amanda M Franklin, Justin Marshall, Adina D Feinstein, Michael J Bok, Anya D Byrd, Sara M Lewis
Scientific Reports | NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP | Published : 2020
Abstract
Animal colouration is often a trade-off between background matching for camouflage from predators, and conspicuousness for communication with con- or heterospecifics. Stomatopods are marine crustaceans known to use colour signals during courtship and contests, while their overall body colouration may provide camouflage. However, we have little understanding of how stomatopods perceive these signals in their environment or whether overall body coloration does provide camouflage from predators. Neogonodactylus oerstedii assess meral spot colour during contests, and meral spot colour varies depending on local habitat. By calculating quantum catch for N. oerstedii's 12 photoreceptors associated ..
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Awarded by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
We would like to thank station managers and staff at the Smithsonian Institution's Carrie Bow Cay research station for support, and Dr. Thomas Cronin for laboratory equipment and support. We also thank four anonymous reviewers for insightful comments that improved the manuscript. A.M.F. was supported by the Fulbright Science and Technology Award and received a Sigma Xi Grant in Aid of Research. J.M. was supported by the Australian Research Council and the Air Force office of Scientific Research/Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development. M.J.B. was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (Grant Nos. BB/P011357/1).