
Journal of Zoology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown
Published: June 12, 2024
Abstract The study of colour, including physical properties and patterns, is an essential step in comprehensively understanding the role, evolution diversification this trait involved functions like survival, performance, reproductive success communication. While quantitative studies on colour have primarily focused attributes, such as hue or brightness, assessment how colours are distributed across organism's body (i.e. pattern) has received less attention despite its high functionality irrespective together with colour. This gap particularly noticeable amphibians, especially highly polymorphic, continuously variable species. In study, we use urodele Salamandra salamandra a model to apply analytical approach for extracting quantifying proportions patterns variation using recently developed R packages patternize recolorize precisely describe compare distribution at both taxonomic habitat levels. We first assessed potential application workflow by examining accuracy sensitivity differentiating morphs, S. s. bernardezi gallaica subspecies. Subsequently, applied same pattern shifts among population within urban–forest system. Our results demonstrated that methodological effectively detects differences levels, confirming utility different fields, from systematics eco‐evolutionary studies. Furthermore, our revealed increased prevalence melanistic colouration homogeneous urban settings, contributing limited number about amphibian anthropic habitats. outline discuss alternative hypotheses explain these although further investigation necessary address several new questions arise results.
Language: Английский