Role of Coat Color Polymorphism in Behavioral Defense Against Raptors

Predators are an important factor in population dynamics and evolution. They not only kill their prey, but also induce adaptive changes in morphology, physiology, and behavior. The relationship between the coat color of water voles, Arvicola amphibius (Linnaeus, 1758), and the predisposition to seizures in response to tactile stimuli is studied. Convulsive behavior is believed to have evolved as a reflex reaction that protects against sudden capture by a predator. It is found that the proportion of those prone to seizures among brown individuals is significantly higher than among dark brown and black ones. A comparison of the frequencies of individuals of different color phenotypes in the natural population and in the prey of raptors using published data shows that black individuals are easier prey for predators. The occurrence of convulsive seizures when captured by a predator can disrupt the stereotypical hunting behavior of the predator and increase the likelihood of survival of brown individuals.