Essential Site Maintenance: Authorea-powered sites will be updated circa 15:00-17:00 Eastern on Tuesday 5 November.
There should be no interruption to normal services, but please contact us at [email protected] in case you face any issues.

loading page

Camouflage efficiency in a colour-polymorphic predator is dependent on environmental variation and snow presence in the wild
  • +1
  • Charlotte Perrault,
  • Chiara Morosinotto,
  • Jon Brommer,
  • Patrik Karell
Charlotte Perrault
University of Turku

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Chiara Morosinotto
Novia University of Applied Sciences - Campus Raseborg
Author Profile
Jon Brommer
University of Turku
Author Profile
Patrik Karell
Yrkeshogskolan Novia Raseborg Campus
Author Profile

Abstract

Colour polymorphism can be maintained by colour morph-specific benefits across environmental conditions. Currently, the amount and duration of snow cover during winter decreases especially in northern latitudes, which can alter the potential for camouflage of animals with light and dark morphs. Tawny owls, Strix aluco, are colour polymorphic avian predators with dark (brown) and light (grey) colour morphs, where the grey morph is presumed to enjoy camouflage benefits under snowy conditions. We studied the two tawny owls’ morphs’ camouflage potential using passerines’ probability to detect and mob in the wild during spring, autumn, and winter with and without snow. We find that grey tawny owls are both less likely to be detected and have a lower probability of being mobbed compared to brown tawny owls only during snowy winters. The two colour morphs therefore experience differential benefits across snow conditions, which may help to maintain colour morphs in the population, although further warming of winter climate will reduce the potential for camouflage for grey tawny owls in northern latitudes.
30 Aug 2023Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
31 Aug 2023Submission Checks Completed
31 Aug 2023Assigned to Editor
07 Sep 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
03 Oct 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
09 Oct 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
21 Nov 20231st Revision Received
21 Nov 2023Submission Checks Completed
21 Nov 2023Assigned to Editor
21 Nov 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending