Data from: Visual signal dynamicity shapes detectability in the wild: an experiment with a mate searching butterfly
Data files
Apr 09, 2026 version files 144.38 MB
-
Data_Signal_dynamicity_shapes_detectability_ms.csv
7.81 KB
-
Flashing_and_moving_stimulus_type.mp4
12.29 MB
-
Flashing_stimulus_type.MP4
132.08 MB
-
README.md
1.74 KB
Abstract
Data published here is from a field experiment designed to test the saliency of different types of visual stimuli using the butterfly Eurema hecabe. We investigate the effect of signal dynamicity on detectability by presenting wild, free-flying butterflies with a female mimicking, flashing (i.e., “fluttering”), and moving model in a 2-by-2 factorial design. Each row (N = 137) represents an event where a butterfly approached the experimental stimulus. Data were used to analyse whether different stimulus features (flashing, moving, and moving + flashing) affect the likelihood of butterflies approaching the model and the distance at which individuals detected the model.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.8gtht7724
Description of the data and file structure
Files and variables
File: Data_Signal_dynamicity_shapes_detectability_ms.csv
Description: Each row represents an event where a butterfly approached the experimental stimulus. On top of Case, Date, and Time, columns are describing the stimulus features, the angle of the sun, the duration that the butterflies interacted with the stimulus, and the distance from where they detected the stimulus.
Variables
- Flash and Move columns describe if the stimulus flashed or moved in each presentation (0 for no and 1 for yes).
- Sun angle describes the angular difference between the butterfly and the sun in relation to the stimulus position. Sun angle of 0 signifies that the sun was behind the butterfly and 180 that the butterfly was facing the sun while flying towards the stimulus. The sun angle was set to 0 if the event occurred during a cloudy weather.
- Dur(ms) is the duration in milliseconds that the butterflies spent interacting with the stimulus, and Ldur(ms) is the log-transformed duration data.
- Distance(m) column has the distance in meters from where each butterfly started approaching the stimulus.
File: Flashing_and_moving_stimulus_type.mp4
Description: Short video clip on how the "flashing and moving" stimulus type looked like.
File: Flashing_stimulus_type.MP4
Description: Short video clip on how the "flashing" stimulus type looked like.
Code/software
Excel or similar software.