Plastral patterns serve an anti-predator function in freshwater turtle hatchlings

Plastral patterns serve an anti-predator function in freshwater turtle hatchlings | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 10 March 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Plastral patterns serve an anti-predator function in freshwater turtle hatchlings Authors : Morgan Clark 0000-0003-1938-7447 [email protected] , Claudia Crowther , and Beth Reinke 0000-0002-9620-001X Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177313902.26454123/v1 135 views 84 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Color and pattern serve as a range of anti-predator defense mechanisms across taxa, from crypsis to warning coloration, and these phenomena are well described across invertebrate and vertebrate systems. Coloration is often assumed to have a consistent anti-predator function across life stages, but research conducted at a single life stage can yield valuable insight into the ecological and evolutionary significance of coloration across shifts in stage-specific selection pressures. Painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) are so named for their striking coloration and patterning. In this study, we use simulated hatchling painted turtles to test the anti-predator function of shell coloration on land. Using resin models, we demonstrate, for the first time, that plastral patterns have an anti-predatory function in painted turtle hatchlings in conditions ecologically relevant to nest dispersal. Specifically, turtle models with simple patterns were predated significantly more than their complex-patterned counterparts. This suggests that plastral pattern may serve as an anti-predator strategy through background matching or disruptive coloration. These results provide evidence for the poorly understood functional importance of color and pattern variation in this species and demonstrate the need to test the roles of defensive coloration and patterning across life stages to better understand their ecological and evolutionary significance. 0pt 2.5ex plus 1ex minus .2ex 1.5ex plus .2ex 0pt 2ex plus .5ex minus .2ex 1ex plus .2ex 0pt 1.5ex plus .5ex minus .2ex 0.8ex plus .2ex Plastral patterns serve an anti-predator function in freshwater turtle hatchlings Morgan Clark 1 , Claudia Crowther 1,2 , Beth A. Reinke 3 1 Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI 49060 2 Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany 3 Department of Biology, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL 60625 Corresponding author - [email protected] Supplementary Material File (ecology and evolution ms main file.docx) Download 8.52 MB File (ecology and evolution supplementary materials.docx) Download 188.43 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 10 March 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords ecological experiment evolutionary ecology freshwater terrestrial vertebrate Authors Affiliations Morgan Clark 0000-0003-1938-7447 [email protected] Michigan State University View all articles by this author Claudia Crowther Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz View all articles by this author Beth Reinke 0000-0002-9620-001X Northeastern Illinois University View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 135 views 84 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Morgan Clark, Claudia Crowther, Beth Reinke. Plastral patterns serve an anti-predator function in freshwater turtle hatchlings. Authorea . 10 March 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177313902.26454123/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. 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