The evolutionary ecology of decorating behaviour

Graeme D. Ruxton*, Martin Stevens

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Many animals decorate themselves through the accumulation of environmental material on their exterior. Decoration has been studied across a range of different taxa, but there are substantial limits to current understanding. Decoration in non-humans appears to function predominantly in defence against predators and parasites, although an adaptive function is often assumed rather than comprehensively demonstrated. It seems predominantly an aquatic phenomenon-presumably because buoyancy helps reduce energetic costs associated with carrying the decorative material. In terrestrial examples, decorating is relatively common in the larval stages of insects. Insects are small and thus able to generate the power to carry a greater mass of material relative to their own body weight. In adult forms, the need to be lightweight for flight probably rules out decoration. We emphasize that both benefits and costs to decoration are rarely quantified, and that costs should include those associated with collecting as well as carrying the material.

Original languageEnglish
Article number20150325
Number of pages5
JournalBiology Letters
Volume11
Issue number6
Early online date3 Jun 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2015

Keywords

  • Camouflage
  • Covering
  • Crypsis
  • Masking
  • Ornamenting
  • Shield carrying

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