Quantifying colour difference in animals with variable
patterning

J 2020

Quantifying colour difference in animals with variable patterning

DRAČKOVÁ, Tereza, Radovan SMOLINSKÝ, Zuzana HIADLOVSKÁ, Matej DOLINAY, Natália MARTÍNKOVÁ et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Quantifying colour difference in animals with variable patterning

Authors

DRAČKOVÁ, Tereza (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Radovan SMOLINSKÝ (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution), Zuzana HIADLOVSKÁ (703 Slovakia), Matej DOLINAY (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution) and Natália MARTÍNKOVÁ (703 Slovakia, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Journal of Vertebrate Biology, 2020, 2694-7684

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10613 Zoology

Country of publisher

Czech Republic

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/20:00117311

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.25225/jvb.20029

UT WoS

000588646400001

Keywords in English

colouration; Reptilia; image analysis; colour pattern; RGB; CIELAB

Abstract

V originále

Colour pattern influences behaviour and affects survival of organisms through perception of light reflectance. Spectrophotometric methods used to study colour optimise precision and accuracy of reflectance across wavelengths, while multiband photographs are generally used to assess the complexity of colour patterns. Using standardised photographs of sand lizards (Lacerta agilis), we compare how colours characterised using point measurements (using the photographs, but simulating spectrophotometry) on the skin differ from colours estimated by clustering pixels in the photograph of the lizard's body. By taking photographs in the laboratory and in the field, the experimental design included two 2-way comparisons. We compare point vs. colour clustering characterisation and influence of illumination in the laboratory and in the field. We found that point measurements adequately represented the dominant colour of the lizard. Where colour patterning influenced measurement geometry, image analysis outperformed point measurement with respect to stability between technical replicates on the same animal. The greater colour variation derived from point measurements increased further under controlled laboratory illumination. Both methods revealed lateral colour asymmetry in sand lizards, i.e. that colours subtly differed between left and right flank. We conclude that studies assessing the impact of colour on animal ecology and behaviour should utilise hyperspectral imaging, followed by image analysis that encompasses the whole colour pattern.

Links

90042, large research infrastructures

Name: CESNET II

Citovat

DRAČKOVÁ, Tereza, Radovan SMOLINSKÝ, Zuzana HIADLOVSKÁ, Matej DOLINAY and Natália MARTÍNKOVÁ. Quantifying colour difference in animals with variable patterning. Journal of Vertebrate Biology. 2020, vol. 69, No 4, p. 1-9. ISSN 2694-7684. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.25225/jvb.20029.

@article{1707216,
   author = {Dračková, Tereza and Smolinský, Radovan and Hiadlovská, Zuzana and Dolinay, Matej and Martínková, Natália},
   article_number = {4},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.25225/jvb.20029},
   keywords = {colouration; Reptilia; image analysis; colour pattern; RGB; CIELAB},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {2694-7684},
   journal = {Journal of Vertebrate Biology},
   title = {Quantifying colour difference in animals with variable patterning},
   url = {https://doi.org/10.25225/jvb.20029},
   volume = {69},
   year = {2020}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1707216
AU  - Dračková, Tereza - Smolinský, Radovan - Hiadlovská, Zuzana - Dolinay, Matej - Martínková, Natália
PY  - 2020
TI  - Quantifying colour difference in animals with variable patterning
JF  - Journal of Vertebrate Biology
VL  - 69
IS  - 4
SP  - 1-9
EP  - 1-9
SN  - 26947684
KW  - colouration
KW  - Reptilia
KW  - image analysis
KW  - colour pattern
KW  - RGB
KW  - CIELAB
UR  - https://doi.org/10.25225/jvb.20029
L2  - https://doi.org/10.25225/jvb.20029
N2  - Colour pattern influences behaviour and affects survival of organisms through perception of light reflectance. Spectrophotometric methods used to study colour optimise precision and accuracy of reflectance across wavelengths, while multiband photographs are generally used to assess the complexity of colour patterns. Using standardised photographs of sand lizards (Lacerta agilis), we compare how colours characterised using point measurements (using the photographs, but simulating spectrophotometry) on the skin differ from colours estimated by clustering pixels in the photograph of the lizard's body. By taking photographs in the laboratory and in the field, the experimental design included two 2-way comparisons. We compare point vs. colour clustering characterisation and influence of illumination in the laboratory and in the field. We found that point measurements adequately represented the dominant colour of the lizard. Where colour patterning influenced measurement geometry, image analysis outperformed point measurement with respect to stability between technical replicates on the same animal. The greater colour variation derived from point measurements increased further under controlled laboratory illumination. Both methods revealed lateral colour asymmetry in sand lizards, i.e. that colours subtly differed between left and right flank. We conclude that studies assessing the impact of colour on animal ecology and behaviour should utilise hyperspectral imaging, followed by image analysis that encompasses the whole colour pattern.
ER  -

DRAČKOVÁ, Tereza, Radovan SMOLINSKÝ, Zuzana HIADLOVSKÁ, Matej DOLINAY and Natália MARTÍNKOVÁ. Quantifying colour difference in animals with variable patterning. \textit{Journal of Vertebrate Biology}. 2020, vol.~69, No~4, p.~1-9. ISSN~2694-7684. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.25225/jvb.20029.

Detailed Information on Publication Record