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The evolutionary ecology of decorating behaviour

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decorating_biology_letters.pdf (422.7Kb)
Date
06/2015
Author
Ruxton, Graeme D.
Stevens, Martin
Keywords
Camouflage
Covering
Crypsis
Masking
Ornamenting
Shield carrying
QH301 Biology
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Abstract
Many animals decorate themselves through the accumulation of environmental material on their exterior. Decoration has been studied across a range of different taxa, but there are substantial limits to current understanding. Decoration in non-humans appears to function predominantly in defence against predators and parasites, although an adaptive function is often assumed rather than comprehensively demonstrated. It seems predominantly an aquatic phenomenon-presumably because buoyancy helps reduce energetic costs associated with carrying the decorative material. In terrestrial examples, decorating is relatively common in the larval stages of insects. Insects are small and thus able to generate the power to carry a greater mass of material relative to their own body weight. In adult forms, the need to be lightweight for flight probably rules out decoration. We emphasize that both benefits and costs to decoration are rarely quantified, and that costs should include those associated with collecting as well as carrying the material.
Citation
Ruxton , G D & Stevens , M 2015 , ' The evolutionary ecology of decorating behaviour ' , Biology Letters , vol. 11 , no. 6 , 20150325 . https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2015.0325
Publication
Biology Letters
Status
Peer reviewed
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2015.0325
ISSN
1744-9561
Type
Journal item
Rights
Copyright 2015 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved. The evolutionary ecology of decorating behaviour Ruxton, G. D. & Stevens, M. 1 Jun 2015 In : Biology Letters. 11, 6, 5 p.20150325 DOI 10.1098/rsbl.2015.0325
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  • University of St Andrews Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/8923

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