Theoretical investigations of automimicry, I. Single trial learning.
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A surprising prediction of the model is that the evolution of unpalatability will not occur in rare prey species unless they first become Batesian mimics, which in turn could lead to the development of mimicry complexes containing many species forming a whole spectrum of unpAlatability.Abstract:
The theory of automimicry is explored mathematically on the assumption that predators can learn to avoid noxious prey by sight for some finite period after a single noxious experience. Automimetic advantage is an inevitable consequence of the evolution of an unpalatability dimorphism. An established automimetic situation is analogous to an established perfect Batesian mimicry situation, although the evolutionary bases of the two phenomena are different. In both situations, the mimetic advantage depends upon the proportion of unpalatable prey, the memory span of the predators, and the abundance of the prey relative to the predators. Automimetic advantage is maximal when the prey are neither too common nor too rare. Remarkably low proportions of unpalatable prey can confer very substantial immunity to the population. A surprising prediction of the model is that the evolution of unpalatability will not occur in rare prey species unless they first become Batesian mimics. This in turn could lead to the evolution of mimicry complexes containing many species forming a whole spectrum of unpalatability.read more
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The Chemical Defenses of Plants to Pathogens and Herbivores
TL;DR: Populations of plants are subject to attack by pathogens and herbivores at all stages of their life cycles, and epidemics or episodes of intensive herbivory may lead directly to the local extinction of a plant species, or may weaken plants and make them vulnerable to subsequent pressures.
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Predator Mixes and the Conspicuousness of Aposematic Signals
John A. Endler,Johanna Mappes +1 more
TL;DR: The effects of variable predators on models that combine positive frequency‐ dependent, frequency‐independent, and negative frequency‐dependent predation are explored and it is shown that weak signaling of aposematic species can evolve if predators vary in their tendency to attack defended prey.
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A Classificatory Review of Mimicry Systems
TL;DR: The aim of this review is to supply the biological community with as comprehensive as possible a checklist of the kinds of mimicry systems that are usually encountered and commonly known.
References
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Plant poisons in a terrestrial food chain.
TL;DR: In the absence of complete metamorphosis in terrestrial insects, the adult food is likely to be the same as or similar to that of the nymph, with the result that the imago is not a pristine entity as far as food intake is concerned.
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Ecological Chemistry and the Palatability Spectrum
TL;DR: A new bioassay for comparing the palatability to avian predators of monarch butterflies reared on various asclepiadaceous food plants containing cardiac glycosides indicates aPalatability spectrum.