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Coevolution of coloration and colour vision?
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 17:16 authored by Olle Lind, Miriam J Henze, Almut Kelber, Daniel Colaco OsorioDaniel Colaco OsorioThe evolutionary relationship between signals and animal senses has broad significance, with potential consequences for speciation, and for the efficacy and honesty of biological communication. Here we outline current understanding of the diversity of colour vision in two contrasting groups: the phylogenetically conservative birds, and the more variable butterflies. Evidence for coevolution of colour signals and vision exists in both groups, but is limited to observations of phenotypic differences between visual systems, which might be correlated with coloration. Here, to illustrate how one might interpret the evolutionary significance of such differences, we used colour vision modelling based on an avian eye to evaluate the effects of variation in three key characters: photoreceptor spectral sensitivity, oil droplet pigmentation and the proportions of different photoreceptor types. The models predict that physiologically realistic changes in any one character will have little effect, but complementary shifts in all three can substantially affect discriminability of three types of natural spectra. These observations about the adaptive landscape of colour vision may help to explain the general conservatism of photoreceptor spectral sensitivities in birds. This approach can be extended to other types of eye and spectra to inform future work on coevolution of coloration and colour vision.
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Publication status
- Published
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- Published version
Journal
Philosophical Transactions B: Biological SciencesISSN
0962-8436Publisher
Royal Society, TheExternal DOI
Issue
1724Volume
372Page range
20160338 1-8Department affiliated with
- Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications
Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2019-03-18First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2019-03-16Usage metrics
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