I remember you! Multicomponent warning signals and predator memory

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11310%2F25%3A10489366" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11310/25:10489366 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=Bl8805dYRC" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=Bl8805dYRC</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arae092" target="_blank" >10.1093/beheco/arae092</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

I remember you! Multicomponent warning signals and predator memory

Original language description

To avoid potentially noxious prey, predators need to discriminate between palatable and unpalatable prey species. Unpalatable prey often exhibits visual warning signals, which can consist of multiple components, such as color and pattern. Although the role of particular components of visual warning signals in predator discrimination learning has been intensively studied, the importance of different components for predator memory is considerably less understood. In this study, we tested adult wild-caught great tits (Parus major) to find out, which components of prey visual warning signals are important when the birds learn to discriminate between palatable and unpalatable prey, and when they remember their experience over a longer time period. Birds were trained to discriminate between palatable and unpalatable artificial prey items that differed in both color and pattern. After 4 wk, the birds were retested in 3 groups: the first group was presented with the same prey as in the training, the second group was tested with the two prey types differing only in color, and the third group could use only the pattern as a discrimination trait. The results suggest that the birds remember their experience with unpalatable prey even after the period of 4 wk. Although the color appears to be more important than the pattern, the combination of both signal components is more effective for prey recognition after several weeks than either the color or pattern alone. Unpalatable prey species usually exhibit warning signals, which-if recognized by predators-can increase the survival of prey. Using an experimental approach, we show that great tits (Parus major) remember their experience with unpalatable prey for the period of 4 wk after the initial encounter. While doing so, they attend to the color of the prey first and then to the pattern.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10613 - Zoology

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA19-09323S" target="_blank" >GA19-09323S: Mimetic complexes and the evolution of inaccurate mimics</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Behavioral Ecology

ISSN

1045-2249

e-ISSN

1465-7279

Volume of the periodical

36

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

9

Pages from-to

arae092

UT code for WoS article

001373042300001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85216211617