Synthesis

In writing this new edition, we have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the most recent findings in the fascinating world of anti-predatory interactions and the diverse and sometimes astonishing related adaptations. The first section to this book was devoted to studies of crypsis, beginning with a consideration of background matching. Simply matching the background against which you are seen might seem at first pass to be the be all and end all of avoiding detection. The running theme throughout this chapter, however, is that costs and constraints mean that perfect background matching is often not obtained, and this explains why organisms often utilize other mechanisms of reducing their ease of detection....