7 ms·
I think the sample size is too low. I am willing to bet that once you start doing this, the flies will start adapting and learning - eventually completely ignor
by sgt 7y ago
I think the sample size is too low. I am willing to bet that once you start doing this, the flies will start adapting and learning - eventually completely ignoring the stripes after a few generations.
- elliekelly 7y agoI wonder if you could then remove the stripes and start the confused fly cycle over again?
- rudolph9 7y agoWith enough time I 100% agree but considering the flys have not adapted for centuries to biting zebras with their stripes I’m skeptical this will happen any time soon.
- raducu 7y agoZebras only existed for centuries?
- msla 7y agoIf you've existed for a million centuries you've existed for centuries.
- sgt 7y agoI think you underestimate fly intelligence. There's been a lot of research done on e.g. fruit flies, and they are pretty intelligent compared to their neuron count, showing a simple thought process before acting.
- Gene_Parmesan 7y agoBut the point is, the theory with the most current support for why zebras have stripes is that they help the zebras avoid biting flies. As far as I understand it, it's not about intelligence, it's about confusing the flies' ability to detect movement. That's where this idea came from -- from research on zebra striping.
- edoo 7y agoAs a kid I was taught zebra stripes throw off the depth perception of lunging predators leading to increased survival rates. It is similar to the dazzle camouflage of old ships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dazzle_camouflage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dazzle_camouflage
- jonshariat 7y agoDitto but I remember reading that they were uncertain if it was even effective. Anyone know if this is proven in other circumstances? It seems to make sense intuitively.
- edoo 7y agoBiologically speaking pigmentation is expensive so they'd lose it if it didn't serve some significant survival purpose.
- Eric_WVGG 7y agothere was a recent study where striped “jackets” were given to horses, and were found to be very effective. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/zebra-stripes-horse-flies-disease-research-evolution-science-a8789701.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/zebra-stripes-hor...
- airstrike 7y agoAt which point you remove the paint and instead paint zebras with cow-like patterns!
- wmil 7y agoI doubt it's that simple. The trick is taking advantage of a limitation in flies eyes. They can't just choose to ignore the stripes.