Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Exploring Predation And Animal Coloration Through Outdoor Activity, Joseph J. Fontaine, Karie L. Decker

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

Although children often characterize animals by the animals' color or pattern. the children seldom understand the evolutionary and ecological factors that favor particular colors. In this ilrticle. we describe two activities that help students understand the distinct evolutionary stmtegies of warning coloration and camoutlage. Because both of these strategies effectively allow prey animals to avoid predation. they can help explain considerable variation in animal coloration.