How the zebra got its stripes: a problem with too many solutions.

Abstract:

:The adaptive significance of zebra stripes has thus far eluded understanding. Many explanations have been suggested, including social cohesion, thermoregulation, predation evasion and avoidance of biting flies. Identifying the associations between phenotypic and environmental factors is essential for testing these hypotheses and substantiating existing experimental evidence. Plains zebra striping pattern varies regionally, from heavy black and white striping over the entire body in some areas to reduced stripe coverage with thinner and lighter stripes in others. We examined how well 29 environmental variables predict the variation in stripe characteristics of plains zebra across their range in Africa. In contrast to recent findings, we found no evidence that striping may have evolved to escape predators or avoid biting flies. Instead, we found that temperature successfully predicts a substantial amount of the stripe pattern variation observed in plains zebra. As this association between striping and temperature may be indicative of multiple biological processes, we suggest that the selective agents driving zebra striping are probably multifarious and complex.

journal_name

R Soc Open Sci

authors

Larison B,Harrigan RJ,Thomassen HA,Rubenstein DI,Chan-Golston AM,Li E,Smith TB

doi

10.1098/rsos.140452

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2015-01-14 00:00:00

pages

140452

issue

1

issn

2054-5703

pii

rsos140452

journal_volume

2

pub_type

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