Auditory signaling including aposematism characterizes many terrestrial animals. Auditory aposematism by which certain animals use auditory aposematic signals to fend off enemies is well known for instance in rattlesnakes. Auditory signaling by plants toward animals and other plants is an emerging area of plant biology that still suffers from limited amount of solid data. Here I propose that auditory aposematism operates in the African whistling thorn acacia (Acacia drepanolobium = Vachellia drepanolobium). In this tree, the large and hollow thorn bases whistle when wind blows. This type of aposematism compliments the well-known conspicuous thorn and mutualistic ant based aposematism during day and may operate during night when the conspicuous thorns are invisible.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5022412 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2016.1207035 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Behavioural changes in aposematic Heliconius melpomene butterflies in response to their predatory bird calls.
Behav Processes
August 2024
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA.
Prey-predator interactions have resulted in the evolution of many anti-predatory traits. One of them is the ability for prey to listen to predators and avoid them. Although prey anti-predatory behavioural responses to predator auditory cues are well described in a wide range of taxa, studies on whether butterflies change their behaviours in response to their predatory calls are lacking.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMolecular mimicry of NMDA receptors may contribute to neuropsychiatric symptoms in severe COVID-19 cases.
J Neuroinflammation
October 2021
Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
Approximately 30% of individuals with severe SARS-CoV-2 infections also develop neurological and psychiatric complaints. In rare cases, the occurrence of autoimmune encephalitis has been reported after SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this systematic review, we have identified eight SARS-CoV-2-associated cases of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNon-visual camouflage.
Curr Biol
November 2020
School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
Rohan Brooker and Bob Wong introduce the ways animals conceal themselves using non-visual sensory stimuli.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFConservation implications of anthropogenic impacts on visual communication and camouflage.
Conserv Biol
February 2017
School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, 25 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
Anthropogenic environmental impacts can disrupt the sensory environment of animals and affect important processes from mate choice to predator avoidance. Currently, these effects are best understood for auditory and chemosensory modalities, and recent reviews highlight their importance for conservation. We examined how anthropogenic changes to the visual environment (ambient light, transmission, and backgrounds) affect visual communication and camouflage and considered the implications of these effects for conservation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDoes the whistling thorn acacia (Acacia drepanolobium) use auditory aposematism to deter mammalian herbivores?
Plant Signal Behav
August 2016
a Department of Biology & Environment, Faculty of Natural Sciences , University of Haifa - Oranim, Israel.
Auditory signaling including aposematism characterizes many terrestrial animals. Auditory aposematism by which certain animals use auditory aposematic signals to fend off enemies is well known for instance in rattlesnakes. Auditory signaling by plants toward animals and other plants is an emerging area of plant biology that still suffers from limited amount of solid data.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!