This article was written by Elizabeth Poulson, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board Naturalist at North Mississippi Regional Park
Have you ever been walking along a stone or pebbled pathway and then seen something that looked like a rock move? It may have been a toad, trying to blend in with its surrounding environment to avoid becoming lunch, or remain undetected so it might catch its own. Like humans, plants and animals have developed many different strategies to remain stealthy, or to avoid predators and competition. One of the most obvious ways to avoid a predator is to get away at top speed. However for many animals, and certainly plants, escaping in a flash is not an option.
Plants and animals that don’t, or can’t, use speed as their main survival mechanism tend to utilize more savvy and inconspicuous strategies. Often times, blending into the surrounding environment or taking on the appearance of something else is the easiest and most effective way to go undetected or become undesirable.
We are all likely familiar with the concept of disguise and dressing up to be someone or something we’re not. We even dedicate a whole day to celebrating this masquerade when Halloween comes around. Some animals and plants dress up too, but instead of disguising themselves for a single day, typically this costume is more like a protective uniform worn at all times. It can often mean the difference between life and death.
One tactic for blending in that animals and plants use is called mimicry. This occurs when one organism (the mimic) appears similar to another organism (the model) or part of an organism. The mimic can look, sound, smell or feel like the model they are trying to resemble. This phenomenon occurs because there is some survival advantage to be gained from copying something else.
One of the most common examples of mimicry is that of the Viceroy butterfly, which appears almost identical to the Monarch butterfly. Viceroys, a non-toxic insect, have evolved to share the characteristic coloration and similar patterns as the toxic Monarch. This aposematic coloration of the Monarch and Viceroy signals to potential predators that they are likely unpalatable. As a result, the Viceroy has sneakily gained a significant survival advantage by imitating the unpleasant tasting Monarch.
Though not as common or well understood as animal mimicry, there are also some plants that utilize mimicry to their advantage. Most often, the goal of the plant is to be pollinated in order to pass on its genes. Here in Minnesota, Skunk Cabbage is one such plant that has evolved to give off a “skunky” smell to lure in fly pollinators. The flies attracted to the smell view it as a great place to lay their eggs. In this case, this relationship can be viewed as mutual, where both the plant and the flies are receiving some kind of benefit.
Many species of orchids also commonly use chemical and visual forms of mimicry to attract pollinators. In addition to the need to eat, some orchids also take advantage of the pollinators’ need to reproduce. They have developed scents that are similar to pheromones given off by some pollinators as well as developed floral structures that entice male pollinators to “mate” with them. As a result of male insects attempting to mate with the flower, the plant receives the pollination service it was after.
Another approach animals use is the concept of camouflage. Camouflage is similar to mimicry and can overlap in some cases, but there are some distinct differences as well. Animals or plants that have evolved to have an appearance or behaviors that allow them to blend in with their environment is referred to as camouflage, whereas mimicry refers to a resemblance between two organisms.
Often, animals that employ camouflage as a survival method are generally trying to appear similar to objects that naturally occur in their surrounding environment, such as plants or rocks. Two classic examples of camouflage include a walking stick insect that blends almost seamlessly with its surroundings and a snowshoe hare that has adapted to have a coat that changes with the seasons. In both cases, the camouflage mechanism these two critters evolved has helped them to avoid predation.
If you enjoy dressing up, then put on your favorite animal costume and enjoy an afternoon of games, dancing and fun at our Animal Masquerade Party on Sunday, October 27 from 1-3 p.m. Stop by the Kroening Interpretive Center to meet some of our animal ambassadors at the front desk and learn about their survival techniques. Register school-aged kids for our MEA break program Creepy, Crawly Creatures October 16-18, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. so they can experience some gross, spooky fun and outdoor exploration.
October Public Programs–Free unless otherwise noted: October 5 – Bird Watching: Fall Migration, 8:30-10am; October 5 – Trail Trekkers, adults 10-11am, families 11:15-12:15pm; October 10 – Homeschool Day: Trees and Seeds Needs, 1-3pm, $5/child; October 11 – Hike: Senses of the Season, 5:30-6:30pm; October 12 – Nature Art: Autumn Arts & Animals, 1:30-3:30pm; October 15 – Bonfire Bunch, 6-7:30pm; October 19 – Outdoors: Incredible Insects, 2-3:30pm; October 24 – Nature Date Night, 6-8pm, ages 18+; and October 27 – Family Funday: Animal Masquerade Party, 12:30-3pm.
Find info/registration for these programs and more at minneapolisparks.org or 612-370-4844. Do you have a question about nature in your own backyard? Then send it our way to northmississippi@minneapolisparks.org and it could appear in a future article. Like us on Facebook to stay in the loop about what is happening at your park!