Female mating preferences can influence both intraspecific sexual selection and interspecific reproductive isolation, and have therefore been proposed to play a central role in speciation. Here, we investigate experimentally in the African cichlid fish Pundamilia nyererei if differences in male coloration between three para-allopatric populations (i.e. island populations with gene flow) of P. n...

Color pattern polymorphisms are widespread in animals, and are found within populations, among populations, and among species. The southern platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus, represents one of the most extreme examples of color pattern polymorphism. Extensive research with this model system for melanoma formation has resulted in an understanding of the underlying genetic basis of over 40 sex-lin...

Neotropical orchid bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossina) are conspicuous due to their vivid and metallic colors. Nevertheless, except for a few comments, usually concerning the appropriateness of using coloration as a taxonomic character (e.g. Rebêlo and Moure, 1996; Nemésio, 2005, 2009; Bembé, 2007), virtually nothing is known about color production and evolution in orchid bees. Based on stud...

Electrochromic switching devices have elicited considerable attention because these thin films are among the most promising materials for energy-saving applications. The vanadium oxide system is simple and inexpensive because only a single-layer film of this material is sufficient for coloration. Vanadium dioxide thin films are fabricated by electrochemical deposition and cyclic voltammetry. Ch...