Summary
Sight-dependent predators may tend to form “searching images” for common varieties of a polymorphic prey species. Selection would then be frequency-dependent and could maintain the polymorphism. This hypothesis has been tested in 13 experiments by presenting populations of green and brown lard-and-flour “baits” to wild passerine birds in their normal surroundings. In each experiment groups of birds were “trained” on greens or browns and were then exposed to populations with the two colours in equal proportions. In every case there was a highly significant tendency for the familiar colour to be taken in excess. In three of the experiments the birds were given a second period of training, this time with the unfamiliar colour. Their overall preferences were reversed and the effect of the training seemed to decrease with time.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Allen, J A. 1972. Apostatic selection: the responses of wild passerines to artificial polymorphic prey. Ph.D. thesis, University of Edinburgh.
Allen, J A. 1974. Further evidence for apostatic selection by wild passerine birds: 9 : 1 experiments. (In preparation.)
Allen, J A, and Clarke, B C. 1968. Evidence for apostatic selection by wild passerines. Nature, 220, 501–502.
Beukema, J J. 1968. Predation by the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.): the influence of hunger and experience. Behaviour, 31, 1–127.
Byrne, O R. 1967. Polymorphism in the Australian Acrididae. 1. Inheritance of colour patterns in the plague locust Chortoicetes terminifera. Heredity, 22, 561–563.
Cain, A J, and Sheppard, P M. 1954. Natural selection in Cepaea. Genetics, 39, 89–116.
Carter, M A. 1967. Selection in mixed colonies of Cepaea nemoralis and Cepaea hortensis. Heredity, 22, 117–139.
Clarke, B. 1962a. Balanced polymorphism and the diversity of sympatric species. In Taxonomy and Geography, ed. D. Nichols. Systematics Association, Oxford.
Clarke, B. 1962b. Natural selection in mixed populations of two polymorphic snails. Heredity, 17, 319–345.
Clarke, B. 1969. The evidence for apostatic selection. Heredity, 24, 347–352.
Clarke, B, and O'Donald, P. 1964. Frequency-dependent selection. Heredity, 19, 201–206.
Cook, L M. 1971. Coefficients of Natural Selection. Hutchinson, London.
Croze, H T. 1970. Searching image in carrion crows. Z Tierpsychol, 5, 1–85.
Dawkins, M. 1971a. Perceptual changes in chicks: another look at the “search image” concept. Anim Behav, 19, 566–574.
Dawkins, M. 1971b. Shifts of “attention” in chicks during feeding. Anim Behav, 19, 575–582.
Den Boer, M H. 1971. A colour polymorphism in caterpillars of Bupalus piniarius (L) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Neth J Zool, 21, 61–116.
Fisher, R A, and Yates, F. 1963. Statistical Tables for Biological, Agricultural and Medical Research (6th ed.). Oliver and Boyd, London.
Gibb, J A. 1962. L. Tinbergen's hypothesis on the role of specific search images. Ibis, 104, 106–111.
Greenwood, J J D. 1969. Apostatic selection and population density. Heredity, 24, 157–161.
Haldane, J B S. 1955. The biochemistry of heterosis and the stabilization of polymorphism. Proc R Soc, B, 144, 217–220.
Haldane, J B S, and Jayakar, S D. 1963. Polymorphism due to selection depending on the composition of the population. J Genet, 58, 318–323.
Li, C C. 1962. On “reflexive selection”. Science, 136, 1055.
Manly, F J, Miller, P, and Cook, L M. 1972. Analysis of a selective predation experiment. Am Nat, 106, 719–736.
Moment, G B. 1962. Reflexive selection: a possible answer to an old puzzle. Science, 136, 262–263.
Mook, J H, Mook, L J, and Heikens, H S. 1960. Further evidence for the role of “searching images” in the hunting behaviour of titmice. Arch Néerl Zool, 13, 448–465.
The Munsell Book of Color. 1966. Munsell Color Go. Inc., Baltimore.
Murdoch, W W. 1969. Switching in general predators: experiments on predator specificity and stability of prey populations. Ecol Monogr, 39, 335–354.
Murton, R K. 1971. The significance of specific search image in the feeding behaviour of the wood pigeon. Behaviour, 40, 10–42.
Ogilvie, P W, and Owen, D F. 1964. Colour change and polymorphism in Chameleo bitaeniatus. Nature, 202, 209–210.
Owen, D F. 1963. Polymorphism and population density in the African land snail Limicolaria martensiana. Science, 140, 666–667.
Owen, D F. 1966. Animal Ecology in Tropical Africa. Oliver and Boyd, London.
Popham, E J. 1941. The variation of the colour of certain species of Arctocorisa (Hemiptera, Corixidae) and its significance. Proc Zool Soc Lond, 111, 135–172.
Popham, E J. 1942. Further experimental studies on the selective action of predators. Proc Zool Soc London, 112, 105–117.
Poulton, E B. 1884. Notes upon, or suggested by, the colours, markings, and protective attitudes of certain lepidopterous larvae and pupae, and of phytophagous hymenopterous larvae. Trans, ent Soc Lond. (1884), 15–56.
Rabinowitch, V E. 1968. The role of experience in the development of food preferences in gull chicks. Anim Behav, 16, 425–428.
Reighard, J. 1908. Warning coloration in coral-reef fishes. Publs Carnegie Instn, 103, 257–325.
Resnick, L E, and Jameson, D L. 1963. Color polymorphism in Pacific tree frogs. Science, 142, 1081–1082.
Royama, T. 1970. Factors governing the hunting behaviour and food selection of the great tit (Parus major L.). J Anim Ecol, 39, 619–668.
Schiøtz, A. 1971. The supergenus Hyperolius viridiflavus (Anura). Vidensk Meddr dansk naturh Foren, 134, 21–76.
Smith, D A S. 1971. Polymorphism and population density in Donax rugosus (Lamelli-branchiata: Donacidae). J Zool Lond, 164, 429–442.
Smith, J N M, and Dawkins, R. 1971. The hunting behaviour of individual great tits in relation to spatial variations in their food density. Anim Behav, 19, 695–706.
Snow, D W. 1958. A Study of Blackbirds. Allen and Unwin, London.
Soan, I D, and Clarke, B. 1973. Evidence for apostatic selection by predators using olfactory cues. Nature, 241, 62–64.
Tinbergen, L. 1960. The natural control of insects in pine woods. 1. Factors influencing the intensity of predation by songbirds. Arch Néerl Zool, 13, 265–343.
Turner, E R A. 1961. Survival values of different methods of camouflage as shown in a model population. Proc Zool Soc Lond, 136, 273–283.
Von Uexkull, J. 1934. Streifzüge durch die Umwelten von Tieren und Menschen. Springer, Berlin.
Wright, S. 1948. On the roles of directed and random changes in gene frequency in the genetics of natural populations. Evolution, 2, 279–294.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Allen, J. Further evidence for apostatic selection by wild passerine birds: training experiments. Heredity 33, 361–372 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1974.103
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1974.103
This article is cited by
-
Color polymorphism in a land snail Cepaea nemoralis (Pulmonata: Helicidae) as viewed by potential avian predators
Naturwissenschaften (2013)
-
Maintaining a happy face: stable colour polymorphism in the spider Theiridion grallator (Araneae, Theridiidae)
Heredity (1990)
-
Apostatic selection by humans searching for computer-generated images on a colour monitor
Heredity (1988)
-
Wild birds prefer to eat the more familiar of artificial morphs that are similar in colour
Heredity (1984)
-
Genetic control of two melanic forms of Panolis flammea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Heredity (1982)