Hiding among colors: background color diversity impedes detection time

Color diversity in the background impedes detection of prey by predators. Many prey animals have colorations that help them blend into their background. The properties of the background may also affect an animal's camouflage. We trained chickens to peck at targets on backgrounds that varied in color and luminance diversity. We found that chicks took more time to detect prey on backgrounds with higher color diversity but luminance diversity did not affect detection times. Avoiding detection is vital for the survival of many animals. Factors extrinsic to animals, such as the visual complexity of the background, have been shown to impede the detection of animals. Studies using artificial and natural backgrounds have attributed background complexity to various visual features of the background. One feature that has received less attention is the diversity of color (hue) in the background. We used chickens and artificial backgrounds containing perceptually distinct elements in experiments to test whether color and luminance diversity affect detection time. We found that color diversity in the background impeded detection, while color diversity in prey and luminance diversity in the background did not impede detection. We also did not find an effect of luminance contrast on detection time. Our study suggests a prey animal can benefit in terms of increased detection times by predators when resting on backgrounds with enhanced color diversity.

Automated summary

Color diversity in the background hinders predators' detection of prey, whereas luminance diversity has no effect. Animals' camouflage can be affected by the visual complexity of the background, with color diversity playing a less studied role. Our study using chickens and artificial backgrounds found that color diversity in the background delays prey detection, while color diversity in prey and luminance diversity in the background have no impact on detection time.