William Atkins
Sunday, 12 February 2012 01:22 <\/p>\n
Science - Biology <\/p>\n
Page 1 of 2 <\/p>\n
A study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology answers the question as to why zebras have stripes. The answer by these Hungarian and Swedish researchers may surprise you but, at least, it is a step in the right direction to answer the pressing question: Why do zebras have stripes? <\/p>\n
The paper in the Journal of Experimental Biology is called \u201cPolarotactic tabanids find striped patterns with brightness and\/or polarization modulation least attractive: an advantage of zebra stripes.\u201d <\/p>\n
It was authored by: <\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00c1d\u00e1m Egri, Mikl\u00f3s Blah\u00f3, and G\u00e1bor Horv\u00e1th (all three from the Environmental Optics Laboratory, Department of Biological Physics, Physical Institute, E\u00f6tv\u00f6s University, Budapest, Hungary);
\u2022 Gy\u00f6rgy Kriska (from the Group for Methodology in Biology Teaching, Biological Institute, E\u00f6tv\u00f6s University, Budapest, Hungary);
\u2022 R\u00f3bert Farkas and M\u00f3nika Gyurkovszky (both from the Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent Istv\u00e1n University, Budapest, Hungary);
\u2022 Susanne \u00c5kesson (from the Department of Biology, Centre for Animal Movement Research, Lund University, Ecology Building, Lund, Sweden). <\/p>\n
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They state from within their paper: \u201cThe characteristic striped appearance of zebras has provoked much speculation about its function and why the pattern has evolved, but experimental evidence is scarce.\u201d <\/p>\n
And, they conclude (Here comes the answer!): \u201c\u2026 we demonstrate that a zebra-striped horse model attracts far fewer horseflies (tabanids) than either homogeneous black, brown, grey or white equivalents.\u201d <\/p>\n
So, the stripes help to confuse horseflies, that is, they would rather bite other animals than striped zebras. <\/p>\n
Is that the end of the story? Check out page two to find out. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Read the rest here: William Atkins Sunday, 12 February 2012 01:22 Science - Biology Page 1 of 2 A study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology answers the question as to why zebras have stripes. The answer by these Hungarian and Swedish researchers may surprise you but, at least, it is a step in the right direction to answer the pressing question: Why do zebras have stripes? Continue reading
\nFinally an answer: Why do zebras have stripes?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"