Egg-laying substrate selection for optimal camouflage by quail.

摘要: Camouflage is conferred by background matching and disruption, which are both affected microhabitat. However, microhabitat selection that enhances camouflage has only been demonstrated in species with discrete phenotypic morphs. For most animals, variation continuous; here we explore whether such individuals can select microhabitats to best exploit camouflage. We use substrate a ground-nesting bird (Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica). species, threat from visual predators high egg appearance shows strong between-female variation. In particularly obvious the amount of dark maculation on light-colored shell. When given choice, birds consistently selected laying substrates made detection their outline challenging. strategy for maximizing varied degree maculation. Females heavily maculated eggs more closely matched color properties, leading through disruptive coloration. lightly eggs, females chose coloration, suggesting matching. Our results show quail "know" individual patterning seek out nest position provides effective phenotype.