Three-dimensional camouflage : exploiting photons to conceal form
Abstract
Many animals have a gradation of body color, termed countershading, where the areas that are typically exposed to more light are darker. One hypothesis is that this patterning enhances visual camouflage by making the retinal image of the animal match that of the background, a fundamentally two-dimensional (2D) theory. More controversially, countershading may also obliterate cues to three-dimensional (3D) shape delivered by shading. Despite relying on distinct cognitive mechanisms, these two potential functions hitherto have been amalgamated in the literature. It has previously not been possible to validate either hypothesis empirically, because there has been no general theory of optimal countershading that allows quantitative predictions to be made about the many environmental parameters involved. Here we unpack the logical distinction between using countershading for background matching or obliterating 3D shape. We use computational modeling to determine the optimal coloration for the camouflage of 3D shape. Our model of 3D concealment is derived from the physics of light and informed by perceptual psychology: we simulate a 3D world that incorporates naturalistic lighting environments. The 49 model allows us to predict countershading coloration for terrestrial environments, for any body shape and a wide range of ecologically relevant parameters. The approach can be generalized to any light distribution, including those underwater.
Citation
Penacchio , O , Lovell , P G , Cuthill , I , Ruxton , G D & Harris , J 2015 , ' Three-dimensional camouflage : exploiting photons to conceal form ' , American Naturalist , vol. 186 , no. 4 , pp. 553-563 . https://doi.org/10.1086/682570
Publication
American Naturalist
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0003-0147Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright © 2015 by The University of Chicago. This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the final published version of the work which was originally published at http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/682570
Description
This research was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council of the United Kingdom, grants BB/J000272/1 to J.M.H. and P.G.L., BB/J002372/ to I.C.C., and BB/J000337/1 to G.D.R.Collections
Items in the St Andrews Research Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.