COLOURSTRATEGIESINNATURE

ABOUTTHEUSEOFCOLOURINNATURE STRATEGIESBETWEENMIMICRYANDPROTAGONISM atextbyFrancescaCremasco MIMICRY/CAMOUFLAGE/IMITATION ThewordmimicryisderivedfromtheGreekmimetizowhichmeansimitation.Innatureitindicatesthephenomenon inwhichananimaltakescolours,forms,behaviorsandothercharacteristicstobesimilartotheenvironmentaroundit, ortoanotheranimal.Mimicryisoneofthemostinterestingandcomplexphenomenawithinenvironmentadaptations aimedatsurvival. If an individual does not adapted to the environment in which it lives, its chances of survival and reproduction are minimal.Averysimilarcolourtothesurroundingenvironmentisbeneficialinescapingpredators,butalsotoavoidbeing noticedbyananimalspotentialvictims.Bodycolorisoftenlinkedtotheneedsofthestruggleforexistence. Animalsmayhavetwotypesofcamouflage,onewiththeaimtohide(survival,protection)andtheotherwiththeaimof modifyingappearanceandrecognition(predationandreproduction).

 Thefirstisknownascrypticmimicry(fromtheGreekkripts=hidden)andreferstotheprocessofasubjectphysically adapting to its surrounding environment, or becoming part of it, in order to hide or become invisible. Some animals authenticallymimicthecolorsandtheshapesofleaves,flowers,woodorrocks. Thesecondtypeisknownasthefanericmimicry(fromtheGreekphaneros,manifest)andoccurswhenanadvantageous featureiscopiedfromotherspeciesforpredation.Fanericmimicrymaybebatesianandmllerian. With batesian mimicry (the name derives from Henry Bates who first discovered and reported this phenomenon) a harmlessspeciesisprotectedbyitsresemblancetooneormoredangerousspecies,noxiousorunattractive.Thistypeof mimicryfunctionsasadefensivestrategy.Thistypeofsystemmayevolveifmodelsandmimescoexistintimeandspace, andshareasimilarlifestyle. Withmullerianmimicry(fromFritzMulller)twoormorespeciesassumesimilarshapesandcoloursinordertonotbe distinguishable, and thus by having similar colors predators quickly learn to chase both. Such cooperation allows a mutualadvantagetothesespecies,asthepredatorsmustlearnonlyonesignal.Inthiswayeverysinglespeciesispreyed oninsmallerquantities. FUNCTION/TYPESOFSTRATEGIES Inordertounderstandmimicryinitstruesense,itisimportanttolookateachfunctionofthevariouscamouflagetypes, and their effects . The function connects and organizes all the parts into a system and identifies a strategy. Each part (suchastheform,colour,motionetc.)canhavedifferentmeaningsdependingonthespecificcontextofrelationships. This is crucial because similar pattern types (e.g. blotches, stripes) may have entirely different functions in different animalsandcircumstances,rangingfromcamouflagetowarningandsexualsignals. Themainformsofvisualcamouflage1: Backgroundmatching:wheretheappearancegenerallymatchesthecolour,lightnessandpatternofone(specialist)or several(compromise)backgroundtypes.Whenasubjecthasthesamecolor(monochromatic)asitsenvironmentthereis anidentificationoffigureandbackground(examplesarefrogs,caterpillarsetc....).Thisprocesscanhappenevenwith the borrowing of materials from a context (like fish camouflaged in the sand). Another example is when the livery matchesseveralbackgroundtypes.Thiscanhappenintwoways,oneconsidersthesubjectanditsenvironment(likea leopard in the savannah), the second regards a group of subjects rather than the individual. This difference leads to specificconfigurationsoflivery.Inthefirstcasethepatterntakescoloursandformsfromthesurroundingcontext,butin the second case the pattern performs its function through the dynamics of the group, through the multiplication of subjects.Forexample,thestripedpatternofthezebraproducesanopticalillusion,whichmakesitdifficulttorecognize thesinglesubject.Thedisguiseisoptimizednotonlyfortheenvironmentbutalsoforgroupbehaviorofherdanimals. Counter shading (obliterative shading and selfshadow concealment): a countershaded animal possesses a darker surfaceonthesidethattypicallyfacesgreaterlightintensityandalighteroppositeside.Countershadingappearstobe involved in several functions, including the compensation of the animals own shadow (selfshadow concealment), simultaneously matching two different backgrounds in two different directions (background matching), changing the threedimensionalappearanceoftheanimal(obliterativeshading).Inselfshadowconcealmentthecreationofshadows is cancelled out by counter shading, and obliterative shading, where the creation of shadow/light cues for the three dimensionalformoftheanimalaredestroyed. Disruptivecoloration:beingasetofmarkingsthatcreatestheappearanceoffalseedgesandboundaries,whichhinders the detection or recognition of an objects, or part of an objects, true outline and shape. A typical example is a body colorationthatconsistsofhighcontrastmarkingsthattendtobreakuptheappearanceofananimal.

1 Here the term camouflage is used to describe all forms of concealment, including those strategies preventing detection (crypsis) and those recognition (e.g. masquerade).

 Flickerfusion camouflage: where markings such as stripes blur during motion to match the colour/lightness of the generalbackground,preventingdetectionoftheanimalwheninmotion. Distractive markings:whichdirect theattentionorgazeof thereceiverfromtraitsthatwould giveawaytheanimal (suchastheoutline). Transparency:wherepartofananimalsbodyistransparent,reducingthelikelihoodthatitwillbedetected. Silvering: common in aquatic environments and where an animals body is highly reflective (like a mirror) making it difficulttodetectwhenlightincidenceisnondirectional(suchasduetostrongscatteringbywaterborneparticles). Masquerade:preventsrecognitionbyresemblinganuninterestingobject,suchasaleaforastick. Motiondazzle:markingsthatmakeestimatesofspeedandtrajectorydifficultbythereceiver. Motioncamouflage:movementinafashionthatdecreasestheprobabilityofmovementdetection.Ananimalappearsto bestationary,trickingthereceiversvisualsystembymovinginacertainway. MAINASPECTS The first important aspect of mimicry is the function (what it does), which is resolved through the synergy of many differentmatters.Thetechnicalaspectofvisualcamouflageprovidesaspecificsolutiontoadesiredfunction. Functionalwaysmovesfromsomefoundationalaspects.Thefirstandforemostiscommunication,theneedtotransfera message. The color is the most effective mean to communicate and create an emotional state (attraction, fear, protection, etc.). This fact implies the involvement of at least three subjects : an active subject, a passive subject (receiver) and the environment, and each subjects can be single or a group. The first two subjects are involved in an empathicrelationandthespaceisusedpassively,ithasaroleofutility.Theresultisalwaysarelation,whichstemsfrom thespecificneedsandcharacteristicsofthesubjects. Mimicry processes occur in a space and generate a space (of relations, of attraction, of warning etc.). What happens duringtheprocessisperceivedonlybysubjectsinvolved,orbyexternalpartiescapableofdecodingthephenomenon, thereforeofhavingthesamecognitiveabilities. Thestrategyofimitationinnatureisbasedontheexistenceofamodel,animitatorandareceiver(thesubjectdeceived bytheimitator).Thisprocessisincontinuousevolutionbecausetheimitatortendstowardsacompleteimitationofthe model,andthereceiverevolvestowardsanincreasinglyaccuratedistinctionofthecharacteristicsoftheimitator. Thecognitiveabilitiesofthereceiverareconstitutivepartoftheprocessofmimesis.Intheprocessofnaturalselection whatisdecisiveistheviewersperception,notourown,becauseithascreatedtheselectionpressureontheanimals coloration. bibliography: Animalcamouflage,editedbyM.StevensandS.Merilaita,CambridgeUniversityPress,2011 ExploringLifeSet,G.Brum,L.K.McKane,G.Karp,Wiley&Sons,Canada,1994 Ilmimetismoanimale,WardP.,DeAgostini,Novara,1979 webresources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimicry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_coloration


exampleofcrypticmimicry

time
adaptationtotheenvironmentmaybecontingent

colour, form and pattern

colour
someexamplesof background matching.

opticalillusion-falseeyes

Largespotsthatresembleeyesisafrequentdrawingon thecoatofanimals. Simulatepartsofthebodyindifferentpositionsserves tolookbiggerandscarethepredator.

exampleoffanericmimicry

falseidentity
Smalldifferencesoncolourand patternforappearhowotherspecies,


 

inadefensivestrategy

Someanimalstaketheappearanceofdangerousanimalsforintimidatepredators.Inothercases thestrategyistheopposite.Somepredatorsmimictheprey(usuallythefemale)forapproachit

andcapture...

CONTACTPOINT
POSSIBLEMIGRATIONOFFUNCTIONSANDTECHNIQUES The concepts outlined above may suggest new perspectives on our environment. Changing ones approach leads to a reinterpretationoftheplacesthatbelongtoavisionalmostcodified,butalsosuggestswaysfordefiningnewfunctions andrelationships.BelowIwanttosuggestsomearchitecturalaspectsofmimeticprocesses,andhowtheycouldleadto newterritoriesofexperimentaldesign. With regards to the spatial qualities of mimetic processes, in many cases we can see that the active subject aims to simulateotherspatialities(ofthebackground,ofthesurroundingelements),ortoconcealitsthreedimensionality.Its a sort of dematerialization and depersonalization, in order to assimilate the characteristics of spaces surrounding the subject,throughacomplexflatteningprocess.Backgroundmatching,countershading,disruptivecoloration,flickerfusion camouflage,transparency,silveringandmasqueradeallfallunderthiscategory.Theconstantelementintheseprocesses istheinteractionbetweenactivesubjectandthebackgroundorsurroundingspace.Theactivesubjectadaptsitselftoan environmentthatisusedinapassiveway.Changingpointofview,thesubjectisalwaysinrelationwithsurfaces,evenif the interaction is not functional and not designed. In mimicry, the colours and forms of livery are the most important elements,supportedalsobytheorientationofsubjectandthearrangementofitsbodypartsinspace. Theirpositionislinkedtothepointofviewofthereceiver,whichcanbedirectedinparticulareithertothehorizontal (fromtoptobottom),ortoverticalplanes(fromhightolow).Thequalityofsurfaces(colours,shapes,developedalonga dominant axis) has an important role on perception of dimension real, dilated or restricted. As explained above, in naturetherelationshipstatus,determinedbythespecificityofthesubject(defensive,aggressive,attractionetc.),isthe driver of the form of mimicry. In other words the type of relationship is the driving force of the project. Shifting the concepttoarchitecture,projectdevelopmentanddesign,relationshipsofvariousnaturescouldemerge,i.e.elements, people,places,andthusinfluencepeoplesreactionsandbehaviorinrelationtothevariousfunctions. Positionandbehavioraretwocloselyrelatedconcepts,notonlyintheanimalworld.Thearrangementofsubjectscreates spatialitieswithdifferentcharacteristics.Spacesofproximity,attractionorrepulsionaregeneratedthroughlocationand orientation. The communication assets of colour helps to define the quality of the movement between the parts, attraction,repulsionordistance.Asignalofdangerinducesausertokeephisorherdistanceandviceversa,attractive colours induce rapprochement. The qualities of the livery interact on the perception of the receiver, creating a conditioned view. Strips, patches, decorative motifs guiding vision, sometimes cause a distorted perception, but correspondexactlytotherequiredfunction.

SUGGESTIONS
case_1 relation subject/background/ movement

Inthesubwaytherearespacesallocatedtodifferentfunctions(spaceswherepeoplewalkandspacesforwaiting)butusuallytheaspectdoesnot change.Surfacesarethebackgroundoftheseconditions.Rethinkingthesurfacesasplacesofinteractionwithfigurescouldleadtonewscenarios andanewterritoryofexploration.

case_2

countershading/orientationofsurfaces

Thistypeofsituationisverycommoninurbanplaces.Therearsideofroadplatforms,tramlinesortrainsisahorizontalsurfacewhichdominatesthe environment.Adifferenttreatmentofthesecouldaffecttheperceptionofspatiality.Actingonperceptionmeansactingonspace.Urbanmargin spacescouldbeconvertedtoplacesofmanydifferentfunctionsorjustevolveintosomethingsuitableforhumanenvironment.

case_3 functions/movement/distance

Roadbarriersareavisualprotection(tohidetheroadfromthesurroundingenvironment)andantinoisefilter(cushiontheimpactoftrafficnoise). Their condition is double (internal/external) in fact the perception and the utility is differently from inside and outside the street. The aspect of surfacescouldbedesignedforextendfunctionality.Throughactingonshapesandcolorsofsurfacesitispossibletodetermineatypeofperceptual relationship(concealment,decorative,communicative).Outsidethereceivercouldbenearorfar,standingstillorinmotion.Thisfactchangesthe possiblefunctionandconsequentlytheformofdecoration(awayfromthebarriermayindicatethepresenceoftheroadgivingusefulinformation, butcloselythedecorationcanbeviewedinadifferentway).

case_4 affecttheperception/resemantise

Inmanybuildingstheappearanceofthefacadeisdominantinurbanspaces.Therearemanyfacadesdesignedwithvisualcodesnowexceeded. Actingontheirappearancewecouldtransformanddeformtheperceptionwehaveonthem.Modifyingfigures,forms,colors,rhythms,itispossible toguidetheperceptiontosomethingdifferentwithoutdestroyingtheexisting.Natureprovidesuswithmethodologicalexamplesandconcepts(like distractive markings, disruptive coloration etc.) so we can come up with new case_5 techniques.

extendthefunctions/spaceintheshadows

Animals use shadow to change the perception of their volume or to disappear. In many cases (as in historical places) we need to make invisible interventionsorminimizetheimpactontheexistingelements.Therelationoflightshadowonarchitectureisofprimaryimportance,rarelydowe lookattheshadowbeforewelookatthebuildingthusnotexploringthevisualopportunitiesandsignalsofshadows.Throughshadowsitispossible to rethink spaces, equipment, roofing and many other typologies of elements which may cause shadows to hide, to confuse, to emphasize surroundingelements.

case_6 emotionalperceptionof space/figurebackground

Pedestrianunderpassesshouldbevisible,attractiveandperceivedassafe,theoppositeofwhatoftenhappens.Visibilityofsubjectsoutsideand during the passage is the most important aspect of feeling safe in a place. This case has an analogy with background matching, the one about relationbetweensubjectandbackground.Lightshadowandcolorsaretheprimaryelementsuponwhichwecanworktoinfluencetheperception ofunderpasses.

case_7 functions/spatiality/flattening

Differentconditions/functionscoexistinthesame.Therelationfigure/backgroundcanhelpisolatethesubjectfromitssurroundingsandamplify theattentiontoit.Concentrationisthemostimportantaspectwhenwearetalkingwithsomebodyforafewminutesinapublicoffice.Alsothe division of spaces (not only physical but also sensoryperceptual) is important for both conditions (waiting and action). During moments of concentration,thespacetendstoloseitsthreedimensionality.Visualperceptionfocusesonthecloseup.Alsotheacousticisolation,whichisvery important in terms of concentration, deletes the perception on threedimensionality of space. Space planning should lead to a correct spatial relationship(proximity,distance),notonlyphysicalbutalsoperceived.

CONCLUSION
Mimicry is a complex phenomenon that must be analyzed from many points of view, because simple and different elementsbecomethevisualreplyofcomplexinteractions.Mimicryisasystemofenvironmentaladaptation,whichfrom timetotimefindsunusualfunctionalexpressions.Thefunctionistheplacewhereelementsareorganizedinastrategy, whichistheexpressionofcharacteristicsandrelationsbetweenthesubjectsinvolvedinthemimeticprocess. Thesubjectsareofprimaryimportancebecausetheyarethedrivingofthesystem.Everyanimalisanactiveandpassive subjectatthesametime,becauseeachsubjectcanbepredatororpreyforanothersubject.Mimicryprimarilyservesin situations of conflict, where there is a contraposition of interest between individuals. The conflict take place if the interestofasubject(active)precludes/conditionstheinterestoftheother(passivesubject). Ourenvironment(notonlynaturalbutalsoourbuiltenvironment)hasmanyplacesofcontrast,someofwhicharenot immediately identifiable because of our ordinary vision. We often suffer the surrounding reality because we take for grantedthemodalitiesthathavegeneratedit.Manyplaces,spaces,andelementsthatappearneutraltoourvisionare instead actually strongly characterized. Mimicry often seems neutral, because of the visual depersonalization of the subjectsontheenvironment.It'saformofhighlyengineeredneutrality. Canharmoniouscoexistencecomethroughaneutralproject? Associalanimals,whichmechanismscanweactuatetoadapttheenvironmenttomanydifferentusers? Also,howcouldwebemoreadaptabletoourcurrentenvironmentalcircumstances? In conflict conditions, which are the mimetic strategies that we normally use, and how much can our intervention influencetheenvironment? Sinceourworldissostronglyartificialized,isitstillpossibletorefertoanaturalworldandadoptitsstrategies?