Meeting Abstract
Animals must manage complex audiences comprised of predators, prey, and conspecifics, each with distinct sensory capabilities. Imperfect mimicry may result from compromises to maximize deception or detection among these multiple viewers. But how do mimics avoid predators while still capturing the attention of potential conspecific mates? One possibility is that morphology perceived by different viewers is dependent on their vantage points, allowing individuals to tailor their appearance to different audiences based on viewer perspective. We tested this idea in Synemosyna formica, a jumping spider ant mimic that must manage the responses of conspecifics, ants, and predators such as mantids, birds, wasps, and other spiders. Using high resolution images and elliptical Fourier analysis, we compared dorsal and lateral shapes of S. formica, other co-occurring spiders, and two co-occurring ants. We found that S. formica is closest in morphospace to ants, while sympatric spiders share less morphological similarity with ants. We also found the degree of similarity between S. formica and ant models varied between dorsal and lateral perspectives. Spectral data was collected from corresponding points on the bodies of S. formica, co-occurring spiders, and ants. Data were compared through visual models of sympatric predators and ants. We found that S. formica and ant spectra overlap in color and brightness while other spiders have less similarity to the ant models. The differences in morphology based on perspective and the similarities in S. formica and ant coloration indicate that audience perspective may play a role in shaping mimic morphology. Additionally, we found that juvenile and adult S. formica differ in which ant model they most closely resemble, indicating a possible shift in models across development.
