Predators favour mimicry in a tropical reef fish
Predators favour mimicry in a tropical reef fish
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DOI：
10.1098/rspb.2002.2263
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发表时间：
2003-04-07
影响因子：
4.7
通讯作者：
Schluter, D
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Caley, MJ;Schluter, D
当与一个引人注目的令人讨厌的模式物种的相似性提供的“保护伞”足以克服与更显著性相关的增加的捕食风险时，贝叶斯模仿就会进化。然而，这把保护伞的形状和范围，也就是说，模仿所提供的保护水平如何随着模型和模仿者之间的相似程度而变化，却鲜为人知。我们研究了野生掠食性鱼类对一对热带珊瑚鱼，Canthigaster valentini（一种有毒河豚，模型）和paruteres prionurus（假定的模仿者）的塑料复制品的反应，以及与模仿者相似程度逐渐降低的其他复制品。我们的研究结果揭示了一个相对广泛的保护区域，由鱼食性鱼类的接近率降低表明，围绕着模式物种的颜色图案。保护随着相似性的增加而增加。相比之下，非食鱼鱼类的反应与模型复制品的相似程度无关。我们的研究结果表明，礁上的食鱼鱼类对C. valentini的毒性有一定的了解，并且避免鱼类具有河豚鱼的颜色图案，从而产生了对可口的P. prionurus的模仿相似性的选择。相对宽阔的保护伞可能促进了可口猎物物种的初始相似性进化，尽管更明显的潜在危险。
Batesian mimicry evolves when the 'umbrella' of protection provided by resemblance to a conspicuous unpalatable model species is sufficient to overcome increased predation risk associated with greater conspicuousness. However, the shape and extent of this umbrella, that is, how the level of protection provided by mimicry changes with degree of resemblance between model and mimic, is poorly known. We investigated the response of wild predatory fishes to plastic replicas of a model-mimic species pair of tropical reef fishes, Canthigaster valentini (a toxic pufferfish, the model) and Paraluteres prionurus (the putative mimic), and additional replicas with progressively lower degrees of resemblance to the mimic species. Our results reveal a relatively broad region of protection, indicated by a reduced approach rate by piscivorous fishes, surrounding the colour pattern of the model species. Protection increased with increasing resemblance. By contrast, the response of non-piscivorous fishes was unrelated to degree of resemblance of replicas to the model. Our results suggest that piscivorous fishes on the reef are educated regarding the toxicity of C. valentini, and that avoidance of fish having the pufferfish colour pattern has generated selection favouring mimetic resemblance by the palatable P. prionurus. The relatively broad protective umbrella has probably facilitated the initial evolution of resemblance in the palatable prey species despite the potential hazards of greater conspicuousness.