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Prey community structure affects how predators select for Mullerian mimicry.

Eira Ihalainen1, Hannah M Rowland, Michael P Speed

  • 1Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Centre of Excellence in Evolutionary Research, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland. eira.h.ihalainen@jyu.fi

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Accurate mimicry evolves in simple prey communities, not complex ones. Predators learn to avoid harmful prey faster in simple communities, favoring mimicry selection.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Behavioral Ecology

Background:

  • Müllerian mimicry involves similar-looking prey sharing warning signals to reduce predator attacks.
  • It is hypothesized that mimicry is strongest in complex communities where predators misidentify prey more often.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how prey community complexity affects the evolution of Müllerian mimicry.
  • To determine if predator learning or mimicry selection is more influential in different community structures.

Main Methods:

  • Wild great tits (Parus major) were presented with artificial prey in either simple or complex community setups.
  • Predator mortality of a model prey and subsequent selection against mimics with varying signal accuracy were recorded.

Main Results:

  • The model prey suffered higher mortality in complex communities due to slower predator learning when predators were inexperienced.
  • Only predators foraging in simple communities effectively selected against inaccurate mimics, indicating stronger selection for accurate mimicry.

Conclusions:

  • Accurate Müllerian mimicry is more likely to evolve in simple prey communities, despite slower predator learning.
  • Specialist predator diets in diverse environments may create "simple community pockets" that favor mimicry evolution.