Seeing red: behavioral evidence of trichromatic color vision in strepsirrhine primates

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

Among primates, catarrhines (Old World monkeys and apes) and certain platyrrhines (New World monkeys) possess trichromatic color vision, which might confer important evolutionary advantages, particularly during foraging. Recently, a polymorphism has been shown to shift the spectral sensitivity of the X-linked opsin protein in certain strepsirrhines (e.g., Malagasy lemurs); however, its behavioral significance remains unknown. We assign genotypes at the X-linked variant to 45 lemurs, representing 4 species, and test if the genetic capacity for trichromacy impacts foraging performance, particularly under green camouflage conditions in which red detection can be advantageous. We confirm polymorphism at the critical site in sifakas and ruffed lemurs and fail to find this polymorphism in collared lemurs and ring-tailed lemurs. We show that this polymorphism may be linked to “behavioral trichromacy” in heterozygous ruffed lemurs but find no comparable evidence in a single heterozygous sifaka. Despite their putative dichromatic vision, female collared lemurs were surprisingly efficient at retrieving both red and green food items under camouflage conditions. Thus, species-specific feeding ecologies may be as important as trichromacy in influencing foraging behavior. Although the lemur opsin polymorphism produced measurable behavioral effects in at least one species, the ruffed lemur, these effects were modest, consistent with the modest shift in spectral sensitivity. Additionally, the magnitude of these effects varied across individuals of the same genotype, emphasizing the need for combined genetic and behavioral studies of trichromatic vision. We conclude that trichromacy may be only one of several routes toward increased foraging efficiency in visually complex environments.
Original languageEnglish
JournalBehavioral Ecology
Volume20
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)1-12
Number of pages12
ISSN1045-2249
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

DOI

Recently viewed

Publications

  1. 'Crawling Jurisdiction'
  2. Measuring at all scales: sourcing data for more flexible restoration references
  3. Measurement Estimation Skills and Strategies of Lower Grade Students
  4. Accelerating the industrial transition with safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD)
  5. Rolling bones
  6. The Problem of Institutional Fit
  7. Binnendifferenzierung in der Schulpraxis
  8. Forest history from a single tree species perspective
  9. Sozialstruktur
  10. Prototypische Lehr-Lern-Bausteine
  11. Integration of Material Flow Management into Company Processes within the Automotive Industry
  12. Beyond Allyship
  13. Development of high strength-ductility Mg-Er extruded alloys by micro-alloying with Mn
  14. Does CEO power moderate the link between ESG performance and financial performance?
  15. Statement
  16. Didactical design methods applied in design studios for Architectural and Cultural Sciences in Brazil
  17. Advanced ice-clamping control in the context of Industry 4.0
  18. Two-step simulation approach for laser shock peening
  19. Die geometry influence on the texture and microstructure development during extrusion of AZ31 and ZK60 magnesium alloy chips
  20. Procedural Frames in Negotiations
  21. Integrated assessment of bioelectricity technology options
  22. Mainstreaming regenerative dynamics for sustainability
  23. Determinants of Credit Allocation for Photovoltaic Projects
  24. Supportive Mental Health Self-Monitoring among Smartphone Users with Psychological Distress
  25. Pitfalls in the Study of Democratization
  26. Disentangling gender and social difference for just and transformative biocultural approaches
  27. Between Usability and Trustworthiness-The Potential of Information Transfer Using Digital Information Platforms for Refugees
  28. Efficiency of HPV 16 L1/E7 DNA immunization