Warning Displays May Function As Honest Signals Of Toxicity

Main Category: Veterinary
Also Included In: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 21 Nov 2008 - 4:00 PST

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Are warning signals honest? We are familiar with the fact that dangerous prey animals advertise their toxins with bright colouration (bees, wasps, ladybirds etc).

The (antioxidant) molecules used by prey to make themselves brightly pigmented may also be used to prevent them poisoning themselvse with their own toxins.

We show that this joint use of antioxidants may cause the brightness of a prey's warning signals to act as honest indicator's of its toxicity. The nastiest prey may "shout loudest" about their anti-predator defences.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences