Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Fixed Action Patterns01:06

Fixed 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
Predator-Prey Interactions02:39

Predator-Prey Interactions

16.2K
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.
16.2K
Types of Selection01:46

Types of Selection

40.4K
Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...
40.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Predators hide against similarly coloured species to camouflage on the move.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same author

A horizon scan of biological conservation issues for 2026.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2025
Same author

Long-Term Efficacy of Guideline-Followed Treatment in Patients with Livedoid Vasculopathy: A Single-Center Study.

Advances in wound care·2025
Same author

Increase in teledermatology consultations regarding suspected tinea capitis - an observation of misidentified nevi flammei.

Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG·2025
Same author

Structural and developmental insights into the muscles involved in lionfish (Pterois spp.) vocalisations.

Journal of fish biology·2025
Same author

Individual identification of bony fishes using unique body markings: Implications and applications.

Journal of fish biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2025

Manipulation of Color Patterns in Jumping Spiders for Use in Behavioral Experiments
09:03

Manipulation of Color Patterns in Jumping Spiders for Use in Behavioral Experiments

Published on: May 21, 2019

9.6K

Cuttlefish adopt disruptive camouflage under dynamic lighting.

Christian Drerup1, Katie Dunkley2, Martin J How3

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.

Current Biology : CB
|July 3, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Dynamic lighting, like underwater caustics, prompts cuttlefish to use more disruptive camouflage patterns. This may help them avoid predators by enhancing their concealment in complex, changing light conditions.

Keywords:
Sepia officinaliscausticscephalopoddisruptive camouflagesensory ecology

More Related Videos

Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish
10:56

Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish

Published on: March 6, 2014

12.5K
A Method for Extracting Pigments from Squid Doryteuthis pealeii
11:03

A Method for Extracting Pigments from Squid Doryteuthis pealeii

Published on: November 9, 2016

9.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2025

Manipulation of Color Patterns in Jumping Spiders for Use in Behavioral Experiments
09:03

Manipulation of Color Patterns in Jumping Spiders for Use in Behavioral Experiments

Published on: May 21, 2019

9.6K
Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish
10:56

Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish

Published on: March 6, 2014

12.5K
A Method for Extracting Pigments from Squid Doryteuthis pealeii
11:03

A Method for Extracting Pigments from Squid Doryteuthis pealeii

Published on: November 9, 2016

9.4K

Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Visual Ecology

Background:

  • Animals use camouflage to avoid detection, adapting to their environment's visual features.
  • Environmental lighting conditions fluctuate, altering the appearance of camouflage over time.
  • The impact of dynamic lighting on animal camouflage patterns remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether underwater dynamic lighting, specifically water caustics, influences the camouflage patterns of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis).

Main Methods:

  • Cuttlefish were exposed to different backgrounds under both static and dynamic lighting conditions.
  • Body patterns expressed by cuttlefish were analyzed in response to lighting and background type.
  • The relationship between scene contrast levels and camouflage patterns was examined.

Main Results:

  • Dynamic lighting induced stronger disruptive camouflage patterns in cuttlefish, irrespective of background type.
  • Increased maximum contrast levels in dynamic lighting scenes correlated with the degree of disruptive camouflage.
  • Cuttlefish exhibited more pronounced disruptive patterns when exposed to water caustics.

Conclusions:

  • Dynamic lighting conditions significantly influence cuttlefish camouflage strategies, promoting disruptive patterns.
  • This response to dynamic lighting may be an adaptive strategy to enhance concealment and reduce detection risk.
  • Alternatively, the observed camouflage patterns could indicate limitations in visual processing under fluctuating light.