加博边缘混隐比率法在研究动物混隐色中的应用

Application of Gabor Edge Disruption Ratio Method in Animal Disruptive Coloration

混隐色猎物高对比度的斑纹会破坏身体的轮廓而产生虚假边缘,妨碍捕食者检测猎物身体的真实边缘。测量动物轮廓周围的虚假边缘与连贯边缘的比例(混隐比率)是目前量化混隐色最好的方法。本研究以黄额闭壳龟Cuora galbinifrons为实例,阐述如何利用目前最先进的加博边缘混隐比率法对脊椎动物混隐色进行量化,并比较不同微生境基质中黄额闭壳龟的加博边缘混隐比率差异。结果显示,黄额闭壳龟的体色具有明显的混隐作用,在其偏好的落叶基质中的加博边缘混隐比率显著高于其极少出现的裸地和石质基质。实例研究证实了利用加博边缘混隐比率法量化脊椎动物混隐色的生物学合理性和有效性,有助于理解混隐色的定义和机制,对推动脊椎动物的混隐色研究发展具有重要意义。

Disruptive coloration is a camouflage strategy of prey with high contrast markings that form false body edges and boundaries,and thereby prevents the detection or recognition of predator.Currently,the ratio of false edges to coherent edges of an animals’outline is the best index of disruptive coloration.Taking the Indochinese box turtle(Cuora galbinifrons)as an example,this study expounds how to quantify the disruptive coloration in vertebrates by using the most advanced Gabor edge disruption ratio(GabRat)method.We also compare the GabRat values of turtles in different microhabitat substrates.The results indicated that the color of the carapace of C.galbinifrons plays an important role in disruptive coloration.Moreover,the GabRat values in turtles preferred deciduous substrates were significantly higher than those in rare habitats including bare grounds and stony substrates.Our study confirms the biological plausibility of GabRat method in quantifying disruptive coloration in vertebrates,and is helpful to understand the definition and mechanism of disruptive coloration.