Presentation Details
| The role of shiny plant signals and polarization in foraging swallowtail butterflies Jenny Y.Sung1, Richard Barelds2, Casper J.van der Kooi2, Michiyo Kinoshita1. 1SOKENDAI, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan.2University of Groningen, Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands |
Abstract
Most flowers appear matte, while leaves appear shiny. This difference may aid visually-guided pollinators in foraging. Further, shiny leaves are more polarized, i.e., have greater polarization degree (PD). Polarization is detectable by many invertebrates and crucial in insect navigation, but little is known about how polarization in physical objects is viewed, such as for plant-based signaling. We hypothesized that shininess and PD from plant surfaces aid insect pollinators in foraging. Using Papilio xuthus butterflies, we examined innate preference for shininess. We found that preference depended on target color and background contrast. Under some conditions, butterflies could learn to choose the unpreferred target. These suggest that shininess plays a role during foraging but may be integrated with other visual cues such as color and contrast. Next, we examined butterfly innate preference for lights of different PD. Butterflies showed clear preferences that were dependent on polarization angle. Along with previous work, this suggests that butterflies perceive PD as brightness. Our study suggests that shiny and polarized surfaces can serve as plant signals for pollinating insects.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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