Dynamic visual effects enhance flower conspicuousness but compromise colour perception
Data files
Oct 30, 2025 version files 16.61 KB
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raw_data_plot_panel_A.csv
1.37 KB
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raw_data_plot_panel_B.csv
6.50 KB
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raw_data_plot_panel_C.csv
6.51 KB
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README.md
2.23 KB
Abstract
Dynamic visual effects such as glossiness are taxonomically widespread and have evolved repeatedly across the tree of life. Their changeable nature poses a challenge for reliable signalling, because for signals to be reliable, they should be consistent. Glossy visual effects defy that principle, because the bright, directional pulse of light that dominates their appearance is highly variable across space and time. Here, we investigate how dynamic light reflections influence signal efficacy using bumblebees as a model of insect vision and plant-pollinator interactions. We show that glossy floral signals occur across Angiosperm lineages. Through behavioural experiments with artificial stimuli that mimic the spectral and spatial reflectance properties of glossy and matte floral surfaces, we demonstrate that glossiness enhances long-range detectability but compromises fine-scale colour discrimination at close range. Glossiness thus poses an optical property by which organisms can attune their visual appearance independent from pigmentary properties, representing a functional trade-off between conspicuousness and signal reliability.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.5tb2rbph3
Description of the data and file structure
Behavioural experiments to test the functional significance of surface gloss in visual signalling
Files and variables
File: raw_data_plot_panel_A.csv
Description: Innate preference tests
Variables
- Colony_id
- Bee_id
- Date (Day/Month/Year)
- Stimulus_colour (b=blue, y=yellow)
- Count_matte
- Count_glossy
- Preference (m = matte, g = glossy, none=no preference)
File: raw_data_plot_panel_B.csv
Description: Learning test blue stimuli
Variables
- Colony_id
- Bee_id
- Date (Day/Month/Year)
- Stimulus_colour (b=blue, y=yellow)
- Count_matte
- Count_glossy
- Preference (i.e. average based on "count_matte" and "count_glossy", m=matte, g=glossy, none=no preference)
- Individual_training_visit (number depends on trainings required, max = 80 visits; 0=visit to unrewarding feeder, 1=visit to rewarding feeder). Empty cells mean that bees were not tested in that round (i.e. they had reached the learning criteria already; see main text).
- Test_count_matte (test after training bees to non-preferred stimulus)
- Test_count_glossy (test after training bees to non-preferred stimulus)
- non_rew_stim (training stimulus used in post-training test)
File: raw_data_plot_panel_C.csv
Description: Learning test yellow stimuli
Variables
- Colony_id
- Bee_id
- Date (Day/Month/Year)
- Stimulus_colour (b=blue, y=yellow)
- Count_matte
- Count_glossy
- Preference (i.e. average based on "count_matte" and "count_glossy", m=matte, g=glossy, none=no preference)
- Individual_training_visit (number depends on trainings required, max = 80 visits; 0=visit to unrewarding feeder, 1=visit to rewarding feeder). Empty cells mean that bees were not tested in that round (i.e. they had reached the learning criteria already; see main text).
- Test_count_matte (test after training bees to non-preferred stimulus)
- Test_count_glossy (test after training bees to non-preferred stimulus)
- non_rew_stim (training stimulus used in post-training test)
Code/software
Spreadsheet