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Effects of pattern, size and background contrast of prey on discrimination learning in avian predators
Kuncová, Aneta ; Exnerová, Alice (advisor) ; Komárek, Stanislav (referee)
The topic of this master thesis was the effects of pattern, size and background contrast of prey on discrimination learning of avian predators. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of selected components of warning coloration on aversive discrimination learning of avian predators of different age and sex. The choosen model organism was the Great tit (Parus major). The comparision was done between hand-reared naïve birds and wild-caught adults of different age and sex. The experiment was taking place in the experimental cage with one way mirror. The experiment used a design of simultaneous task with two pray which differed in one component of the coloration (pattern, size and background kontrast). The differencies in the ability of discrimination learning was found just between hand-rared naïve birds and wild-caught adults. Better results were shown by the wild-caught adults. The ability of discrimination learning of wild-caught adults was not influenced by the age and sex. Pattern was the only significant component of the warning coloration due to which the birds were able to memorise the discrimination task. Key words: avoidance learning, unpalatable prey, pattern, size, background, contrast
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Effect of chromatic component on function of antipredatory warning signals
Truhlářová, Marie ; Exnerová, Alice (advisor) ; Pipek, Pavel (referee)
Warning coloration is used by prey to signal its unprofitability to potential predators. Warning colours may have different effects on various cognitive processes of predators (innate avoidance, avoidance learning, memory and generalization). Typical colours regarded as aposematic are red, orange and yellow. Red colour is considered to be the most effective signal and has a significant effect on avoidance learning, memory and generalization. Orange also represents an effective warning signal, though it has been studied less. Yellow is effective aposematic stimulus but it has frequently been found less effective compared to red and orange. Warning functions of white, blue, violet and ultraviolet colours were studied less frequently and their role in aposematism is not yet clear. Iridescent coloration might also be an effective warning signal affecting avoidance learning, memory and generalization. In this thesis I present a summary of information with regard to different warning colours and their effect on cognitive processes of predators. Key words: aposematism, warning coloration, cognitive processes, red, orange, yellow, iridescence, avoidance learning, innate avoidance, memory, generalization
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Effects of pattern, size and background contrast of prey on discrimination learning in avian predators
Kuncová, Aneta ; Exnerová, Alice (advisor) ; Komárek, Stanislav (referee)
The topic of this master thesis was the effects of pattern, size and background contrast of prey on discrimination learning of avian predators. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of selected components of warning coloration on aversive discrimination learning of avian predators of different age and sex. The choosen model organism was the Great tit (Parus major). The comparision was done between hand-reared naïve birds and wild-caught adults of different age and sex. The experiment was taking place in the experimental cage with one way mirror. The experiment used a design of simultaneous task with two pray which differed in one component of the coloration (pattern, size and background kontrast). The differencies in the ability of discrimination learning was found just between hand-rared naïve birds and wild-caught adults. Better results were shown by the wild-caught adults. The ability of discrimination learning of wild-caught adults was not influenced by the age and sex. Pattern was the only significant component of the warning coloration due to which the birds were able to memorise the discrimination task. Key words: avoidance learning, unpalatable prey, pattern, size, background, contrast
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Experimental studies of Müllerian mimetic complexes
Jůnová, Lenka ; Exnerová, Alice (advisor) ; Hotová Svádová, Kateřina (referee)
Mimicry is one of strategies which provides protection for the prey from predator attack. There are several kinds of mimetic relationships, one of them is Müllerian mimicry, i.e. mutualistic relationship between two unpalatable prey species. If there are more animal species in this relationship, it is called Müllerian mimetic complex. Relationships in mimetic complexes are affected by many factors like defence level and aposematic signals resemblance of particular species, their different frequencies, alternative prey, prey community structure or predator species and their experience level. These factors determine whether the relationship of the species involved is mutualistic or parasitic. They also affect predators behaviour and their learning rate, memory and generalisation between mimetic species. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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