Read Mimicry Through the Shared Predator
Mimicry evolves through interactions between prey and the predators that learn to recognise warning signals.
Mimicry is the central idea in this question pattern. Identify the condition in the stem before applying the method below.
Distinguish the models
In Batesian mimicry, a harmless species resembles a defended model and gains protection. In Müllerian mimicry, two or more defended species converge on a shared warning pattern. A shared predator is the selective agent that learns and avoids that signal.
Batesian and Müllerian mimicry
In Batesian mimicry, a harmless species resembles a defended model and gains protection without benefiting the model. In Müllerian mimicry, multiple defended species share warning signals, reducing predator learning costs; both patterns can involve reciprocal evolutionary change.
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- ✓Batesian: harmless mimic, defended model.
- ✓Müllerian: defended species share a warning signal.
- ✓Predator learning drives the shared signal.
Do not call Batesian mimicry mutualism; the mimic benefits while the model may pay a cost.
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