Camouflage and Clutch Survival in Plovers and Terns.

摘要: Animals achieve camouflage through a variety of mechanisms, which background matching and disruptive coloration are likely the most common. Although many studies have investigated mechanisms using artificial stimuli in lab experiments, less work has addressed wild. Here we examine egg clutches laid by ground-nesting Snowy Plovers Charadrius nivosus Least Terns Sternula antillarum breeding mixed aggregations at Bahia de Ceuta, Sinaloa, Mexico. We obtained digital images both species. then calibrated used custom computer software edge detection algorithms to quantify measures related three potential mechanisms: pattern complexity matching, effects color matching. Based on our image analyses, Plover clutches, general, appeared be more camouflaged than Tern clutches. also survived better Unexpectedly, variation clutch survival was not explained any measure either conclude that poor predictors this population. The behavior incubating parents may affect predation. Determining significance requires further testing visual models behavioral experiments.