Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 21, 2026
07:25
Basic Methods for the Study of Reproductive Ecology of Fish in Aquaria
Published on: July 20, 2017
11.3K
Rockpool gobies change colour for camouflage.
Martin Stevens1, Alice E Lown1, Alexander M Denton1
1Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|October 22, 2014
Summary
Rock gobies exhibit rapid camouflage abilities, changing color and brightness within minutes to match diverse backgrounds. This rapid visual adjustment aids concealment and predator avoidance in complex intertidal environments.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Animal Behavior
- Camouflage Ecology
Background:
- Camouflage provides protection from visually guided predators across diverse habitats.
- Intertidal species face varied backgrounds and multiple predators during high and low tides.
- While many small intertidal fish are suggested to change color, experimental evidence is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the color-changing abilities of rock gobies (Gobius paganellus).
- To determine if rock gobies can adjust their appearance to match different backgrounds for camouflage.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted using rock gobies on black/white and colored (red/blue) backgrounds.
- Digital image analysis and avian vision modeling quantified changes in color and luminance.
- Assessed the effectiveness of camouflage based on background matching.
Main Results:
- Rock gobies demonstrated rapid color change capabilities, occurring within one minute.
- Gobies adjusted luminance on backgrounds of differing brightness.
- Gobies altered hue and saturation on different colored backgrounds while maintaining luminance.
Conclusions:
- Rockpool fish possess rapid visual adjustment mechanisms for concealment.
- This rapid color and luminance change enhances camouflage effectiveness.
- Rapid visual change is likely a crucial anti-predation strategy for many species in complex environments.
Related Concept Videos
01:06Fixed Action Patterns
15.9K
A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.
15.9K
02:39Predator-Prey Interactions
16.8K
Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.
16.8K
02:32Osmoregulation in Fishes
48.6K
When cells are placed in a hypotonic (low-salt) fluid, they can swell and burst. Meanwhile, cells in a hypertonic solution—with a higher salt concentration—can shrivel and die. How do fish cells avoid these gruesome fates in hypotonic freshwater or hypertonic seawater environments?
48.6K
01:23Red Algae
1.9K
Red algae, also known as rhodophytes, are primarily found in marine environments, though some species inhabit freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. These organisms exist in both unicellular and multicellular forms, with some multicellular varieties reaching macroscopic sizes.As phototrophic organisms, red algae contain chlorophyll a; however, their chloroplasts lack chlorophyll b. Instead, they possess phycobiliproteins, which serve as major light-harvesting pigments, similar to those found in...
1.9K
01:24Testing a Claim about Population Proportion
2.9K
A complete procedure for testing a claim about a population proportion is provided here.
There are two methods of testing a claim about a population proportion: (1) Using the sample proportion from the data where a binomial distribution is approximated to the normal distribution and (2) Using the binomial probabilities calculated from the data.
The first method uses normal distribution as an approximation to the binomial distribution. The requirements are as follows: sample size is large...
There are two methods of testing a claim about a population proportion: (1) Using the sample proportion from the data where a binomial distribution is approximated to the normal distribution and (2) Using the binomial probabilities calculated from the data.
The first method uses normal distribution as an approximation to the binomial distribution. The requirements are as follows: sample size is large...
2.9K
01:20Mate Choice
8.2K
Mate choice—the decision about whom to mate with—is a type of natural selection, since animals must reproduce to pass down their genes. Mate choice is also called intersexual selection because the behavior occurs between the sexes.
8.2K