endler-deimatisma-2017.pdf (422.22 kB)
Deimatism: a neglected component of antipredator defence
journal contribution
posted on 2017-04-01, 00:00 authored by K D L Umbers, S De Bona, T E White, J Lehtonen, J Mappes, John EndlerJohn EndlerDeimatic or 'startle' displays cause a receiver to recoil reflexively in response to a sudden change in sensory input. Deimatism is sometimes implicitly treated as a form of aposematism (unprofitability associated with a signal). However, the fundamental difference is, in order to provide protection, deimatism does not require a predator to have any learned or innate aversion. Instead, deimatism can confer a survival advantage by exploiting existing neural mechanisms in a way that releases a reflexive response in the predator. We discuss the differences among deimatism, aposematism, and forms of mimicry, and their ecological and evolutionary implications. We highlight outstanding questions critical to progress in understanding deimatism.
History
Journal
Biology lettersVolume
13Issue
4Pagination
1 - 5Publisher
The Royal Society PublishingLocation
London, Eng.Publisher DOI
Link to full text
eISSN
1744-957XLanguage
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2017, The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society.Usage metrics
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Acripezaaposematismcamouflagepredator–preystartle reflexwarning coloursAnimalsBehavior, AnimalBiological EvolutionEscape ReactionReflexScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineBiologyEcologyEvolutionary BiologyLife Sciences & Biomedicine - Other TopicsEnvironmental Sciences & Ecologypredator-preyWARNING COLORATIONEVOLUTIONPREYPREDATORSATTENTIONDIVERSITYSURVIVALMIMICRYEMOTIONSNAKE
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