An interesting question and one I cannot answer. I have always used all black or all silver. Maybe you could stratify or randomize the colors among your treatments as an additional variable to possibly answer your question.

Rather than the colour itself, I would expect contrast with the ground to influence frugivore behaviour. Whenever possible I use dark green or brown mesh, which here, in European temperate woodlands, are quite difficult to see after several days deployed (at least for a human eye, of course). Black works also well here, as there is not too much light in these forests. Among the colours in your picture, I would be suspicious on yellow and blue ones, as they probably result in higher contrast (even if intense or dark, blue usually results in high contrasta, as I have seen...and in fact, is my favourite colour for flagging). But of course, that is very context-dependent; the amount of light, the predominant hues of the ground and even the amount of litter (which usually covers the mesh in several days) may determinethe result.

But, whether the frugivores see the mesh and whether they change their behaviour as a response are two different questions. I would expect them to be able to see and distinguish the different colour traps, but I am not sure if they would react to that difference. I wouldn't expect great differences for avian frugivores feeding on trees (if the traps are on the ground), but the effect could be larger for ground dwelling frugivores. Of course, the best thing to do is what Dan suggested, statistical controlling for mesh colour...and cross your fingers!!

Hi Hazel,

I am currently running an experiment to test the effectiveness of artificial bird perches at increasing bird mediated seed dispersal in ecological restoration projects at three sites in the South Island of New Zealand. I am using ground based seed traps with silver (metal) mesh covering them. I am not aware of any evidence in the literature that would indicate that mesh colour effects herbivore behaviour, although this doesn't mean that it doesn't have an effect.

My main concern with your seed traps is that they don't exclude seed predators. Are they on the ground? I guess that doesn't matter too much if you are only trying to measure the difference in abundance between two or more treatments. However, if you are trying to quantify an absolute figure of frugivore seed dispersal or the diversity of plant species involved the traps should have predator-proof mesh (6-10mm) over them, in addition to the mesh you are already using.

I'm just down the road so I'm free for a coffee if you want to discuss this further :)

I used sliver trap, but once I set-up a green cage around traps to exclude predators, the cage-mesh trapped a muntjac, whereas by camera in other places, the cage also seem to attract some monkeys to touch. I agree that contrast may cause the effects, and the effects may be different in the context of light environment, and animals.

Many features of animal behaviour are conditioned by colour, and this includes feeding behaviour. I don´t have any literature-based information about the best colour to use for building cages/traps in studies wich include herbivores. But a colour I would surely avoid woul be red - birds are generally attracted by red fruits/seeds when looking for food. In a research project I am involved, green was the chosen colour for cages, in order to keep them unconspicous in the field.

No, there will be no effect. I know this because my seed traps were red, blue, green and yellow and it did not affect my results. See my profile picture, which shows red seed traps!

Andrew :-)

We have understory fruits the color of your blue mesh, so it might attract attention. However, I doubt you will find significant differences in trapping success. I also worry about the lack of predator exclusion. Put in peanuts or sunflower seeds to check, but in SE Asia rodents can remove seeds from any trap that is not covered by an additional coarse mesh.