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Testing Müllerian mimicry: an experiment with wild birds
M P Speed1, N J Alderson, C Hardman
1Environmental and Biological Studies, Liverpool Hope University College, UK. speedm@hope.ac.uk
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|May 23, 2000
Summary
Wild birds learned about prey defenses, challenging Müllerian mimicry theories. Findings suggest less defended prey can dilute protection, supporting unconventional mimicry models.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Animal Behavior
- Ecology
Background:
- Müllerian mimicry traditionally assumes mutual benefit between defended species.
- Unconventional theories propose less defended species may dilute protection of better-defended mimics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test competing theories of Müllerian mimicry using wild birds and artificial prey.
- To investigate if prey with unequal defenses affect mimicry protection.
Main Methods:
- Wild birds were presented with pastry 'prey' with varying defense levels over 40-day experiments.
- Observed bird feeding behavior to assess learned avoidance and protection conferred by mimicry.
Main Results:
- A moderately defended prey diluted the protection of a better-defended mimic (quasi-Batesian effect).
- Conversely, a moderately defended prey added protection to a similarly defended mimic.
- Results align with unconventional mimicry theories based on Pavlovian learning.
Conclusions:
- Findings challenge traditional views of Müllerian mimicry, highlighting the role of defense inequality.
- Supports unconventional theories where learning rules can lead to dilution effects in mimicry systems.