Mate detection in a territorial butterfly-the effect of background and luminance contrast

摘要: Many animals search for potential mates or prey using a perch-and-sally strategy. The success of such strategy will depend on factors that affect the observer's ability to detect passing resource item. Intrinsic (e.g., eye structure and physiology) have received much recent attention, but less is known about effects object detection in nature extrinsic as size, coloration, speed background against which viewed. Here, we examine how affects butterfly models by perched males Asterocampa leilia field. We test hypothesis male choice perch site influence contrast between it viewed this detecting object. also effect manipulating brightness presenting different reflectance (ranging from black white). found an model luminance, with dark being most likely elicit response regardless background. Further, there was type blue sky eliciting highest response. Perceived luminance correlates behavior; highly contrasting objects are more frequently detected. This study expands our understanding visual system performance has implications behavior evolutionary ecology perching species. (Less)