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Table 1 Studies on the effects of background colouration on the occurrence of colour morph switches in green-brown polymorphic (upper section) and other polymorphic (lower section) orthopterans

From: What triggers colour change? Effects of background colour and temperature on the development of an alpine grasshopper

  

N

Proportion of Switches

  

Species

Background Material

matched

non-matched

matched

non-matched

Stages with Switches

Reference

a) Green-Brown Polymorphism

       

Acrida turrita

fresh/dry grass

62

145

4 %

86 %

after ecdysis

[48]

Acrida turrita

painted sawdust

14

15

0 %

100 %

after ecdysis

[48]

Acrida turrita

painted sawdust

 

32

 

0 %

imago

[48]

Oedaleus decorus

NA

10

66

0 %

88 %

after ecdysis

[33]

Schistocerca americana

coloured paper

 

74

 

0 %

across stages

[47]

Schistocerca gregaria

coloured paper

58

312

0 %

63.5 %

within stages

[68]

Locusta migratoria

coloured paper

58

237

69 %

24 %

across stages

[69]

Rhammatocerus

habitat background

 

3000 >

 

90 % >

imago

[28]

schistocercoides

       

Chorthippus biggutulus

coloured paper

 

257

 

30 %

across stages

[70]

b) Other Polymorphisms

       

Oedipoda sp.

earth, clay, coal, stone, chalk

12

92

0 %

80 %

after ecdysis

[37]

Tetrix subulata

sand

 

312

 

16 %

across stages

[49]

Tetrix ceperoi

sand

 

228

 

16 %

across stages

[49]

  1. The proportion of switches was calculated for various studies based on multiple assays either on matched or non-matched background colour. Studies do not indicate precise time of colour morph switch occurrence, only final results of repeated colour assessments across nymphal stages are stated (in the case of Ergene all switches occur after an ecdysis event). Percentages reflect amount of individuals from the total amount in any given category – matched or non-matched – which switched colour, therefore they are not expected to add up to 100 %. Most studies used low densities of individuals (≤5) per cage, but one study ([33]) housed up to 10 individual per cage. NA = information not available