Colour and appearance in nature part II. Colour and appearance of flowering plants and animals

Colour and appearance of flowering plants and animals are discussed in terms of the three driving forces for colouration discussed in Part I. They are: first, the need to absorb incident radiation; second, the combination of reflection properties and visual characteristics; and third, incidental colouration caused because a biochemical, which has been optimised by an organism, happens to be coloured. Pigments and structures have evolved in both plants and animals to optimise colouration. Many flowering plants have evolved in conjunction with different flying creatures to enable pollination to occur. There are only two principles in animal colouration: Either the animal does not want to be seen or he does want to be seen (or does not mind being seen). The mechanisms by which these aims can be achieved are varied. There are three “dimensions” to the visual impact, or total appearance, which one animal has upon another: They are colour, pattern, and behavioural display.