Blog Post 10 - Concluding Hiding in Plain Sight


Evolution is one of the most significant concepts in biology. The process of evolution by natural selection has produced and continues to produce some of the most intriguing and amazing traits found in living organisms. Mimicry is regularly acclaimed as one of the most clear-cut examples of evolution by natural selection since impressive morphological similarity between a mimic and its model evolves in response to various selection pressures, in particular predation (Wilson et al. 2013). 


Source: http://microamaze.blogspot.com/2015/11/animal-mimicry.html  Retrieved on: 22/05/2019


Over the last 9 blog posts we have found out that mimicry accounts for situations in nature where (1) types of organisms by way of identical key signatures elicit an identical response in a perceiving animal, although (2) the perceiving animal earns positive consequences from responding to one type and negative consequences from responding to the other type and (3) the perceiving animal's response to the particular key signature nevertheless remains unaltered as long as the experienced positive consequences outweigh the negative ones (Wickler, 2013).



By discussing some of the forms of mimicry and how it can occur between 2-3 species but also between multiple species (mimicry rings), we have also explored various selection pressures that drive the evolution of mimicry along the way. To recap some of these include polymorphism, relative population sizes of the model and the mimic, the resemblance accuracy, predator learning, mutation, sexual selection, predation, anti-aposematic selection, geographical isolation, genetic drift, sexual selection, genetic divergence, allopathic speciation causing hybridization, reproductive success of hybrids, reproductive isolation and also preadaptation (Katoh et al. 2017; Ceccerelli and Crozier, 2016; Pekár et al. 2017; Speed et al. 2006).    



Overall, the success of mimicry in nature is undeniable; it helps organisms continue to survive. It is an extremely intriguing topic that I have enjoyed exploring. Whether it be through defensive, aggressive, auto mimicry (or other forms that were undiscussed), mimicry is an incredible evolutionary engine: a perpetual struggle between mimetic organisms and imitated ones in order to improve their respective survivals.

Source: http://www.greenhumour.com/2017/06/  Retrieved on: 22/05/2019




References



Ceccarelli, F.S. and Crozier, R.H., 2007. Dynamics of the evolution of Batesian mimicry: molecular phylogenetic analysis of ant‐mimicking Myrmarachne (Araneae: Salticidae) species and their ant models. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 20(1), pp.286-295.


Katoh, M., Tatsuta, H. and Tsuji, K., 2017. Rapid evolution of a Batesian mimicry trait in a butterfly responding to arrival of a new model. Scientific reports, 7(1), p.6369.



Pekár, S., Petráková, L., Corcobado, G. and Whyte, R., 2017. Revision of eastern Australian ant-mimicking spiders of the genus Myrmarachne (Araneae, Salticidae) reveals a complex of species and forms. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 179(3), pp.642-676.



Speed, M.P., Ruxton, G.D. and Broom, M., 2006. Automimicry and the evolution of discrete prey defences. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 87(3), pp.393-402.



Wilson, J.S., Jahner, J.P., Williams, K.A. and Forister, M.L., 2013. Ecological and evolutionary processes drive the origin and maintenance of imperfect mimicry. PloS one, 8(4), p.e61610.



Wickler, W., 2013. Understanding mimicry–with special reference to vocal mimicry. Ethology, 119(4), pp.259-269.

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