Camouflage, behavior, and predator-prey interactions in a changing world

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ID: 313466
2026
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Abstract
Camouflage is among the most widespread visual adaptations in nature, allowing both prey and predators to remain undetected and thereby influencing the likelihood of predation success. For camouflage to be effective, multiple intrinsic factors (e.g., body coloration and morphological traits) must interact with extrinsic conditions (e.g., background coloration, the light environment, and the observer's visual capabilities) to ensure optimal concealment. However, anthropogenic changes in the landscape appearance and organism's sensorial traits can disrupt several of the mechanisms underlying camouflage functioning. Examples include the alteration or removal of habitat backgrounds by human-induced fires, habitat modification, pollution, artificial light at night, and increased water turbidity, while sensory disturbances can impair organisms' ability to adjust their coloration and behaviorally select matching habitats. Despite the diversity of these impacts, human-driven effects on animal camouflage remain poorly understood. In this review, we provide a synthesis of how anthropogenic changes affect camouflage effectiveness in nature, with emphasis on how these changes interact with the mechanisms involved. Finally, we emphasize the need to consider anthropogenic change not only at the species level but also through the lens of coloration, one of the most pervasive functional traits in nature, given its central role in behavioral ecology and its sensitivity to ongoing environmental change.
Reference Key
openalex_W7161255294 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors João Vitor de Alcantara Viana, Kimberly S. Sheldon, Raoni Rebouças, Rafael C. Duarte
Journal integrative and comparative biology
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/icb/icag048
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icag048
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