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Iridescence impairs object recognition in bumblebees

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Iridescence impairs object recognition in bumblebees. / Kjernsmo, Karin; Hall, Jo; Doyle, Cara; Khuzayim, Nadia; Cuthill, Innes; Scott-Samuel, Nick; Whitney, Heather.

In: Scientific Reports, Vol. 8, No. 1, 8095, 25.05.2018.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Harvard

Kjernsmo, K, Hall, J, Doyle, C, Khuzayim, N, Cuthill, I, Scott-Samuel, N & Whitney, H 2018, 'Iridescence impairs object recognition in bumblebees', Scientific Reports, vol. 8, no. 1, 8095. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26571-6

APA

Kjernsmo, K., Hall, J., Doyle, C., Khuzayim, N., Cuthill, I., Scott-Samuel, N., & Whitney, H. (2018). Iridescence impairs object recognition in bumblebees. Scientific Reports, 8(1), [8095]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26571-6

Vancouver

Kjernsmo K, Hall J, Doyle C, Khuzayim N, Cuthill I, Scott-Samuel N et al. Iridescence impairs object recognition in bumblebees. Scientific Reports. 2018 May 25;8(1). 8095. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26571-6

Author

Kjernsmo, Karin ; Hall, Jo ; Doyle, Cara ; Khuzayim, Nadia ; Cuthill, Innes ; Scott-Samuel, Nick ; Whitney, Heather. / Iridescence impairs object recognition in bumblebees. In: Scientific Reports. 2018 ; Vol. 8, No. 1.

Bibtex

@article{55a50670417444ec853b93ffbbdc5c23,
title = "Iridescence impairs object recognition in bumblebees",
abstract = "Iridescence is a taxonomically widespread and striking form of animal coloration, yet despite advances in understanding its mechanism, its function and adaptive value are poorly understood. We test a counterintuitive hypothesis about the function of iridescence: that it can act as camouflage through interference with object recognition. Using an established insect visual model (Bombus terrestris), we demonstrate that both diffraction grating and multilayer iridescence impair shape recognition (although not the more subtle form of diffraction grating seen in some flowers), supporting the idea that both strategies can be effective means of camouflage. We conclude that iridescence produces visual signals that can confuse potential predators, and this might explain the high frequency of iridescence in many animal taxa.",
author = "Karin Kjernsmo and Jo Hall and Cara Doyle and Nadia Khuzayim and Innes Cuthill and Nick Scott-Samuel and Heather Whitney",
year = "2018",
month = "5",
day = "25",
doi = "10.1038/s41598-018-26571-6",
language = "English",
volume = "8",
journal = "Scientific Reports",
issn = "2045-2322",
publisher = "Springer Nature",
number = "1",

}

RIS - suitable for import to EndNote

TY - JOUR

T1 - Iridescence impairs object recognition in bumblebees

AU - Kjernsmo, Karin

AU - Hall, Jo

AU - Doyle, Cara

AU - Khuzayim, Nadia

AU - Cuthill, Innes

AU - Scott-Samuel, Nick

AU - Whitney, Heather

PY - 2018/5/25

Y1 - 2018/5/25

N2 - Iridescence is a taxonomically widespread and striking form of animal coloration, yet despite advances in understanding its mechanism, its function and adaptive value are poorly understood. We test a counterintuitive hypothesis about the function of iridescence: that it can act as camouflage through interference with object recognition. Using an established insect visual model (Bombus terrestris), we demonstrate that both diffraction grating and multilayer iridescence impair shape recognition (although not the more subtle form of diffraction grating seen in some flowers), supporting the idea that both strategies can be effective means of camouflage. We conclude that iridescence produces visual signals that can confuse potential predators, and this might explain the high frequency of iridescence in many animal taxa.

AB - Iridescence is a taxonomically widespread and striking form of animal coloration, yet despite advances in understanding its mechanism, its function and adaptive value are poorly understood. We test a counterintuitive hypothesis about the function of iridescence: that it can act as camouflage through interference with object recognition. Using an established insect visual model (Bombus terrestris), we demonstrate that both diffraction grating and multilayer iridescence impair shape recognition (although not the more subtle form of diffraction grating seen in some flowers), supporting the idea that both strategies can be effective means of camouflage. We conclude that iridescence produces visual signals that can confuse potential predators, and this might explain the high frequency of iridescence in many animal taxa.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85047743983&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41598-018-26571-6

DO - 10.1038/s41598-018-26571-6

M3 - Article

VL - 8

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

SN - 2045-2322

IS - 1

M1 - 8095

ER -