Visual illusions in predator–prey interactions: birds find moving patterned prey harder to catch

摘要: Several antipredator strategies are related to prey colouration. Some colour patterns can create visual illusions during movement (such as motion dazzle), making it difficult for a predator capture moving successfully. Experimental evidence about dazzle, however, is still very scarce and comes only from studies using human predators capturing items in computer games. We tested dazzle effect the first time natural (wild great tits, Parus major). used artificial bearing three different patterns: uniform brown (control), black with elongated yellow pattern interrupted pattern. The last two resembled of aposematic, polymorphic dart-poison frog Dendrobates tinctorius. specifically whether an could when combined straight movement. Our results, do not support this hypothesis. found no differences number successful attacks towards (elongated/interrupted) linearly. Nevertheless, both types were significantly more catch compared prey, indicating that provide some benefit individual. Surprisingly, background (complex vs. plain) was found. This experiment showing affect avian predators’ ability but mechanisms lowering rate poorly understood.