Dr Karin Kjernsmo
Research
I am mainly interested in natural selection imposed by visual predators on different types of protective colouration in prey animals. I'm also interested in natural selection on related behavioural anti-predator adaptations, such as habitat choice of prey with respect to visual characteristics of the available backgrounds. Protective coloration, such as crypsis, warning coloration or eyespots, are examples of adaptations that helps prey animals to avoid predator attacks. The adaptive value of these protective traits is determined by how predators respond to them, implying that the visual and cognitive abilities of predators should be an important driving force on the selection pressure of the traits.
Much of my recent research has been focused on the biological function of specular reflection ('gloss') and of iridescence, a form of structural coloration that changes depending on the angle of view or angle of illumination. More specifically, I have been using both behavioural and psychophysics experiments to investigate the impacts of iridescence on target detection, recognition and capture using insects, birds and humans as visual predators.
Currently, I'm a senior research associate working on a BBSRC funded project called 'Concealing 3D shape' in which we investigate ways to optimise camouflage for a given 3D shape - but also what makes objects easy to detect.
Biography
I graduated in Biology from the University of Gothenburg in 2009. I then started a PhD entitled "Anti-predator adaptations in aquatic environments" with Dr. Sami Merilaita (Åbo Akademi) and Prof. Jörgen I. Johnsson (University of Gothenburg) at Åbo Akademi University (Turku, Finland) in 2009.
In April 2014, I obtained my PhD degree (final grade: Pass with Honours), and for my thesis "Anti-predator Adaptations in Aquatic Environments" I was awarded the OIKOS Finland prize for the best PhD-thesis in Ecology and Evolutionary biology 2014. A .pdf version of the Introduction to my PhD thesis can be found from here
In late July 2015 I moved from Turku to Bristol and started working in CamoLab as a Research Associate on a 3-year BBSRC funded project investigating whether iridescence can be deceptive. The grant was extended as I was also covering as a Lecturer here at University of Bristol for a year.
From summer 2019 I am working on another 3-year BBSRC funded project called 'Concealingh 3D shape'
Publications
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Costello, L.M., Scott-Samuel, N.E., Kjernsmo, K. & Cuthill, I.C. 2020. False holes as camouflage. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 287, 20200126.
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Kjernsmo, K., Whitney, H.M., Scott-Samuel, N.E., Hall, J.R., Knowles, H., Talas, L. & Cuthill, I.C. 2020. Iridescence as camouflage. Current Biology 30, 551-555.
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Talas, L., Fennell, J. G., Kjernsmo, K., Cuthill, I. C., Scott-Samuel, N. E., Baddeley, R. J. 2020. CamoGAN: Evolving optimum camouflage with Generative Adversarial Networks. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 11, 240-247.
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Kjernsmo, K., Grönholm, M. & Merilaita, S. 2019. Size and contrast increase the divertive effect of eyespots. Behav. Ecol., 30: 159– 165.
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Kjernsmo K, Hall JR, Doyle C, Khuzayim N, Cuthill IC, Scott-Samuel NE, Whitney HM. 2018. Iridescence impairs object recognition in bumblebees. Scientific Reports 8: 8095.
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Kjernsmo K. 2017. Butterfly Mimicry. In: Shackelford T., Weekes-Shackelford V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham
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Kjernsmo K. 2017. Eyespots. In: Shackelford T., Weekes-Shackelford V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham
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Kjernsmo, K., and S. Merilaita. 2017. Resemblance to the enemy's eyes underlies the intimidating effect of eyespots. American Naturalist 190: 594– 600.
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Kjernsmo, K., Grönholm, M. & Merilaita, S. 2016. "Adaptive constellations of protective marks: eyespots, eye stripes and diversion of attacks by fish". Animal Behaviour, 111, 189-195.
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Kjernsmo, K. & Merilaita, S. 2013. Eyespots divert attacks by fish. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 280, 20141458.
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Kjernsmo, K. & Merilaita, S. 2012. Background choice as an anti-predator strategy: the roles of background matching and visual complexity in the habitat choice of the least killifish. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 279, 4192-4198.