Aposematism in the burying beetle? Dual function of anal fluid in parental care and chemical defence
| Autor: | James Gilbert, Sheena C. Cotter, Giuseppe Boncoraglio, Rebecca M. Kilner, Carita Lindstedt |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
varoitusväri
0106 biological sciences 0301 basic medicine Aposematism warning coloration Biology 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Predation 03 medical and health sciences eritteet Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Dual function kovakuoriaiset Ecology secretions C182 Evolution beetles biology.organism_classification Nicrophorus vespilloides C120 Behavioural Biology 030104 developmental biology Threatened species Burying beetle ta1181 Animal Science and Zoology Chemical defense C100 Biology C180 Ecology Paternal care |
| Popis: | Burying beetles (Nicrophorus vespilloides) bear distinctive and variable orange-black patterning on their elytra and produce an anal exudate from their abdomen when threatened. During breeding, the anal exudates contribute to the antimicrobial defence of the breeding resource. We investigated whether the anal exudates also provide a responsive chemical defence, which is advertised to potential avian predators by the beetle’s orange and black elytral markings. We found that that the orange-black elytral markings of the burying beetle are highly conspicuous for avian predators against range of backgrounds, by using computer simulations. Using bioassays with wood ants, we also showed that the burying beetle’s anal exudates are aversive to potential predators. From these results, and other evidence in the literature, we conclude that the evidence for aposematism in the burying beetle is as strong as the evidence for many other classically aposematic species, such as defended Hymenopterans, ladybirds or poisonous frogs. Nevertheless, we also report unexpectedly high levels of individual variation in coloration and chemical defences, as well as sex differences. We suggest that this variation might be due partly to conflicting selection pressures, particularly on the dual function of the exudates, and partly to nutritional differences in the developmental environment. The ecology of the burying beetles (Nicrophorus spp.) differs markedly from better-studied aposematic insects. This genus thus offers new potential for understanding the evolution of aposematism in general. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|