Abstract

Animals use colour for a wide range of different functions from camouflage to bright conspicuous communicative signals. What makes a signal camouflaged or conspicuous, however, often depends on the background against which it is viewed. A single colour pattern can, therefore, act in different ways when viewed in different microhabitats or under different lighting conditions. However, this also means that habitat change can drastically alter how animal colouration functions. In this talk, we will explore how viewing conditions and habitat change affect the defensive colouration of translucent glass frogs and brightly coloured poison frogs.

Biography

Jim Barnett is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University. Jim completed his PhD in 2016 as a member of CamoLab at the University of Bristol, he then held postdoctoral positions at McGill University, before moving to McMaster University in 2019. His research includes anti-predator behaviour and animal colouration, with a particular focus on Neotropical amphibians.

www.jbbarnett.co.uk