Brighter-colored paper wasps (<it>Polistes dominula</it>) have larger poison glands
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Aposematism is a defense system against predators consisting of the toxicity warning using conspicuous coloration. If the toxin production and aposematic coloration is costly, only individuals in good physical condition could simul...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2012-08-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Zoology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.frontiersinzoology.com/content/9/1/20 |
| _version_ | 1811320194474180608 |
|---|---|
| author | Vidal-Cordero J Moreno-Rueda Gregorio López-Orta Antonio Marfil-Daza Carlos Ros-Santaella José L Ortiz-Sánchez F |
| author_facet | Vidal-Cordero J Moreno-Rueda Gregorio López-Orta Antonio Marfil-Daza Carlos Ros-Santaella José L Ortiz-Sánchez F |
| author_sort | Vidal-Cordero J |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Aposematism is a defense system against predators consisting of the toxicity warning using conspicuous coloration. If the toxin production and aposematic coloration is costly, only individuals in good physical condition could simultaneously produce abundant poison and striking coloration. In such cases, the aposematic coloration not only indicates that the animal is toxic, but also the toxicity level of individuals. The costs associated with the production of aposematic coloration would ensure that individuals honestly indicate their toxicity levels. In the present study, we examine the hypothesis that a positive correlation exists between the brightness of warning coloration and toxicity level using as a model the paper wasp (<it>Polistes dominula</it>).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We collected wasps from 30 different nests and photographed them to measure the brightness of warning coloration in the abdomen. We also measured the volume of the poison gland, as well as the length, and the width of the abdomen. The results show a positive relationship between brightness and poison-gland size, which remained positive even after controlling for the body size and abdomen width.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results suggest that the coloration pattern of these wasps is a true sign of toxicity level: wasps with brighter colors are more poisonous (they have larger poison glands).</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:54:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-66b2775174814f169cb0d38fa6c47822 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1742-9994 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:54:51Z |
| publishDate | 2012-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Zoology |
| spelling | doaj.art-66b2775174814f169cb0d38fa6c478222022-12-22T02:46:05ZengBMCFrontiers in Zoology1742-99942012-08-01912010.1186/1742-9994-9-20Brighter-colored paper wasps (<it>Polistes dominula</it>) have larger poison glandsVidal-Cordero JMoreno-Rueda GregorioLópez-Orta AntonioMarfil-Daza CarlosRos-Santaella José LOrtiz-Sánchez F<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Aposematism is a defense system against predators consisting of the toxicity warning using conspicuous coloration. If the toxin production and aposematic coloration is costly, only individuals in good physical condition could simultaneously produce abundant poison and striking coloration. In such cases, the aposematic coloration not only indicates that the animal is toxic, but also the toxicity level of individuals. The costs associated with the production of aposematic coloration would ensure that individuals honestly indicate their toxicity levels. In the present study, we examine the hypothesis that a positive correlation exists between the brightness of warning coloration and toxicity level using as a model the paper wasp (<it>Polistes dominula</it>).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We collected wasps from 30 different nests and photographed them to measure the brightness of warning coloration in the abdomen. We also measured the volume of the poison gland, as well as the length, and the width of the abdomen. The results show a positive relationship between brightness and poison-gland size, which remained positive even after controlling for the body size and abdomen width.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results suggest that the coloration pattern of these wasps is a true sign of toxicity level: wasps with brighter colors are more poisonous (they have larger poison glands).</p>http://www.frontiersinzoology.com/content/9/1/20Paper waspPoison glandsAposematic colorationWarning signals |
| spellingShingle | Vidal-Cordero J Moreno-Rueda Gregorio López-Orta Antonio Marfil-Daza Carlos Ros-Santaella José L Ortiz-Sánchez F Brighter-colored paper wasps (<it>Polistes dominula</it>) have larger poison glands Frontiers in Zoology Paper wasp Poison glands Aposematic coloration Warning signals |
| title | Brighter-colored paper wasps (<it>Polistes dominula</it>) have larger poison glands |
| title_full | Brighter-colored paper wasps (<it>Polistes dominula</it>) have larger poison glands |
| title_fullStr | Brighter-colored paper wasps (<it>Polistes dominula</it>) have larger poison glands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Brighter-colored paper wasps (<it>Polistes dominula</it>) have larger poison glands |
| title_short | Brighter-colored paper wasps (<it>Polistes dominula</it>) have larger poison glands |
| title_sort | brighter colored paper wasps it polistes dominula it have larger poison glands |
| topic | Paper wasp Poison glands Aposematic coloration Warning signals |
| url | http://www.frontiersinzoology.com/content/9/1/20 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vidalcorderoj brightercoloredpaperwaspsitpolistesdominulaithavelargerpoisonglands AT morenoruedagregorio brightercoloredpaperwaspsitpolistesdominulaithavelargerpoisonglands AT lopezortaantonio brightercoloredpaperwaspsitpolistesdominulaithavelargerpoisonglands AT marfildazacarlos brightercoloredpaperwaspsitpolistesdominulaithavelargerpoisonglands AT rossantaellajosel brightercoloredpaperwaspsitpolistesdominulaithavelargerpoisonglands AT ortizsanchezf brightercoloredpaperwaspsitpolistesdominulaithavelargerpoisonglands |