DOI: 10.5061/dryad.xsj3tx9mc
title: Data from: Background matching can reduce responsiveness of jumping spiders to stimuli in motion

description: Motion and camouflage were previously considered to be mutually exclusive,
 as sudden movements can be easily detected. Background matching, for
 instance, is a well-known, effective camouflage strategy where the color
 and pattern of a stationary animal match its surrounding background.
 However, background matching may lose its efficacy when the animal moves,
 as the boundaries of the animal become more defined against its
 background. Recent evidence shows otherwise, as camouflaged objects can be
 less detectable than uncamouflaged objects even while in motion. Here, we
 explored if the detectability of computer-generated stimuli varies with
 the speed of motion, background (matching and unmatching) and size of
 stimuli in six species of jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae). Our
 results showed that in general, the responsiveness of all six salticid
 species tested decreased with increasing stimulus speed regardless of
 whether the stimuli were conspicuousness or camouflaged. Importantly,
 salticid responses to camouflaged stimuli were significantly lower
 compared to conspicuous stimuli. There were significant differences in
 motion detectability across species when the stimuli were conspicuous,
 suggesting differences in visual acuity in closely related species of
 jumping spiders. Furthermore, small stimuli elicited significantly lower
 responses than large stimuli across species and speeds. Our results thus
 suggest that background matching is effective even when stimuli are in
 motion, reducing the detectability of moving stimuli.
description: This README_Tan_et_al.txt was generated on 2023-05-05 by Min Tan and
 Daiqin Li. \--------------------------------------General
 Information---------------------------------- \#This is the dataset for
 Min Tan, Jeremiah Y.O. Chan, Long Yu, Eunice J. Tan, and Daiqin Li.
 Background matching can reduce responsiveness of jumping spiders to
 stimuli in motion. Journal of Experimental Biology. doi:10.1242/jeb.246092
 \#Authors for Correspondence 1. Daiqin Li; e-mail:
 2. Eunice J. Tan; email:
 \#Period of Data Collection July 2020 to May
 2021 \#Location of Data Collection Singapore \#Description of Data Points
 NA=unavailable record \#Funding sources This study was supported and
 funded by the Singapore Ministry of Education AcRF grants (A-0008615-00-00
 and A-8001085-00-00); the National Natural Science Foundation of China
 (31872229, 32270531). \----------------------Overview for
 data_and_codes_Tan_et_al-------------------------------- \#Folder List:
 Codes_Tan_et_al: This folder contains R codes (in software) for data
 analyses and figures. Data_Tan_et_al: This folder contains datasets (file
 type "csv") for the Visual Responsiveness Assay and Background
 Matching Assay. Missing data code: NA
 \---------------------------------Methodological
 Information-------------------------------- \#The data was collected
 following the protocol described in Tan et al. Background matching can
 reduce responsiveness of jumping spiders to stimuli in motion. Journal of
 Experimental Biology. doi:10.1242/jeb.246092 \#The data was analysed with
 R 4.2.2. \-----------------------------------Specific
 Information------------------------------------ \#More details for each
 folder can be found within the folders.