Predator responses to prey camouflage strategies: a meta-analysis.

Although numerous studies about camouflage have been conducted in the last few decades, there is still a significant gap in our knowledge about the magnitude of protective value of different camouflage strategies in prey detection and survival. Furthermore, the functional significance of several camouflage strategies remains controversial. Here we carried out a comprehensive meta-analysis including comparisons of different camouflage strategies as well as predator and prey types, considering two response variables: mean predator search time (ST) (63 studies) and predator attack rate (AR) of camouflaged prey (28 studies). Overall, camouflage increased the predator ST by 62.56% and decreased the AR of prey by 27.34%. Masquerade was the camouflage strategy that most increased predator ST (295.43%). Background matching and disruptive coloration did not differ from each other. Motion camouflage did not increase ST but decreases AR on prey. We found no evidence that eyespot increases ST and decreases AR by predators. The different types of predators did not differ from each other, but caterpillars were the type of prey that most influenced the magnitude of camouflage's effect. We highlight the potential evolutionary mechanisms that led camouflage to be a highly effective anti-predatory adaptation, as well as potential discrepancies or redundancies among strategies, predator and prey types.

Fluidez de gênero e gênero como força interpelativa: discussão com Jacqueline Rose / Gender fluidity and gender as interpellative force: a discussion with Jacqueline Rose / Fluidez de género y género como fuerza interpelativa: discusión con Jacqueline Rose / Fluidité de genre et le genre comme force interpellative: discussion avec Jacqueline Rose

Este estudo examina as implicações da fluidez de gênero e da permanência de gênero para fins de experiência clínica e social. Consideram-se as crises de desenvolvimento em torno da separação tanto para desenvolvimento masculino quanto para o feminino. Teorias de desenvolvimento, teoria de sistemas dinâmicos não lineares e interseccionalidade são propostas como modelos úteis, uma vez que contemplam a identificação no desenvolvimento.

This essay examine the implications of gender fluidity and gender fixity for clinical and social experience. The developmental crises around separation are considered for both male and female development. Developmental theories, nonlinear dynamic systems theory and intersectionality are proposed as useful templates for considering identification in development.

Este estudio examina las implicaciones de la fluidez de género y de la permanencia de género para fines de experiencia clínica y social. Se consideran las crisis de desarrollo en relación a la separación tanto para el desarrollo masculino como para el femenino. Teorías de desarrollo, teoría de sistemas dinámicos no lineales e interseccionalidad son propuestas como modelos útiles, pues contemplan la identificación en el desarrollo.

Cette étude examine les implications de la fluidité et de la permanence de genre, ayant pour but une expérience clinique et social. On a pris en compte les crises de développement au tour de la séparation, soit pour le développement masculin, soit pour le féminin. On propose des théories de développement, la théorie de systèmes dynamiques non linéaires et de l'intersectionnalité en tant que modèles utiles, étant donné qu'ils traitent de l'identification dans le développement.

The masquerade game: marine mimicry adaptation between egg-cowries and octocorals.

Background. Background matching, as a camouflage strategy, is one of the most outstanding examples of adaptation, where little error or mismatch means high vulnerability to predation. It is assumed that the interplay of natural selection and adaptation are the main evolutionary forces shaping the great diversity of phenotypes observed in mimicry; however, there may be other significant processes that intervene in the development of mimicry such as phenotypic plasticity. Based on observations of background mismatching during reproduction events of egg-cowries, sea snails of the family Ovulidae that mimic the octocoral where they inhabit, we wondered if they match the host species diversity. Using observations in the field and molecular systematics, we set out to establish whether the different egg-cowrie color/shape polymorphisms correspond to distinct lineages restricted to specific octocoral species. Methods. Collection and observations of egg-cowries and their octocoral hosts were done using SCUBA diving between 2009 and 2012 at two localities in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP), Malpelo Island and Cabo Corrientes (Colombia). Detailed host preference observations were done bi-annually at Malpelo Island. We analyzed the DNA sequence of the mitochondrial genes COIand 16S rDNA, extensively used in phylogenetic and DNA barcoding studies, to assess the evolutionary relationship among different egg-cowrie colorations and morphologies. Results. No genetic divergence among egg-cowries associated to different species of the same octocoral genus was observed based on the two mitochondrial genes analyzed. For instance, all egg-cowrie individuals from the two sampled localities observed on 8 different Pacifigorgia-Eugorgia species showed negligible mitochondrial divergence yet large morphologic divergence, which suggests that morphologies belonging to at least two sea snail species, Simnia avena(=S. aequalis) and Simnialena rufa, can cross-fertilize. Discussion. Our study system comprised background-matching mimicry, of the masquerade type, between egg-cowries (Simnia/Simnialena) and octocorals (Pacifigorgia/Eugorgia/Leptogorgia). We observed mimicry mismatches related to fitness trade-offs, such as reproductive aggregations vs. vulnerability against predators. Despite the general assumption that coevolution of mimicry involves speciation, egg-cowries with different hosts and colorations comprise the same lineages. Consequently, we infer that there would be significant tradeoffs between mimicry and the pursuit of reproductive aggregations in egg-cowries. The findings of this study not only contribute to the understanding of the evolution of mimicry in egg-cowries, a poorly studied group of marine gastropods, but also to the development of a new biologically meaningful board game that could be implemented as a learning tool.

Morphometric comparisons of plant-mimetic juvenile fish associated with plant debris observed in the coastal subtropical waters around Kuchierabu-jima Island, southern Japan.

The general morphological shape of plant-resembling fish and plant parts were compared using a geometric morphometrics approach. Three plant-mimetic fish species, Lobotes surinamensis (Lobotidae), Platax orbicularis (Ephippidae) and Canthidermis maculata (Balistidae), were compared during their early developmental stages with accompanying plant debris (i.e., leaves of several taxa) in the coastal subtropical waters around Kuchierabu-jima Island, closely facing the Kuroshio Current. The degree of similarity shared between the plant parts and co-occurring fish species was quantified, however fish remained morphologically distinct from their plant models. Such similarities were corroborated by analysis of covariance and linear discriminant analysis, in which relative body areas of fish were strongly related to plant models. Our results strengthen the paradigm that morphological clues can lead to ecological evidence to allow predictions of behavioural and habitat choice by mimetic fish, according to the degree of similarity shared with their respective models. The resemblance to plant parts detected in the three fish species may provide fitness advantages via convergent evolutionary effects.

Anorexia: uma imagem desmascarada / Anorexia: an image unmasked / Anorexia: una imagen sin máscara

Este artigo pretende discutir a anorexia baseado na hipótese de que ela pode ser uma das estratégias femininas da atualidade para lidar com o corpo. Para isso, é retomado o conceito de feminino e de mascarada fálica na psicanálise lacaniana, ressaltando o fracasso desse artifício nos sujeitos anoréxicos. É apresentado o caso clínico de uma mulher com sintomas anoréxicos, que sustentou a hipótese apresentada no artigo e seu desenvolvimento teórico.(AU)

This paper discusses anorexia from the hypothesis that it may be one of actual feminine strategies of dealing with its body. For this, the concept of feminine and phallic masquerade in lacanian psychoanalysis is investigated, highlighting the failure of this artifice in anorexic subjects. It presented the clinical case of a woman with anorexic symptoms which led to the hypothesis and its theoretical development.(AU)

Este artículo tiene como objetivo discutir la anorexia desde la hipótesis de que ésta puede ser una de las estrategias femeninas actuales para relacionarse con el cuerpo. Para ello, retomamos el concepto de femenino y de mascarada fálica en el psicoanálisis lacaniano, enfatizando el fracaso de este dispositivo en los sujetos anoréxicos. Se presenta el caso clínico de una mujer con síntomas anoréxicos que sirvió como base de la hipótesis presentada en el artículo y del desarrollo teórico.(AU)