The function of zebra stripes.

@article{Caro2014TheFO,
  title={The function of zebra stripes.},
  author={Tim Caro and Amanda S. Izzo and Robert C. Reiner and Hannah Walker and Theodore Stankowich},
  journal={Nature communications},
  year={2014},
  volume={5},
  pages={
          3535
        }
}
Despite over a century of interest, the function of zebra stripes has never been examined systematically. Here we match variation in striping of equid species and subspecies to geographic range overlap of environmental variables in multifactor models controlling for phylogeny to simultaneously test the five major explanations for this infamous colouration. For subspecies, there are significant associations between our proxy for tabanid biting fly annoyance and most striping measures (facial and… 
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Concordance on zebra stripes: a comment on Larison et al. (2015)
TLDR
In the second multifactorial analysis of striping in zebras, Larison et al. investigated the environmental factors that explain geographical variation in striping within a single species and found that greater intensities of intraspecific striping were associated with warmer temperatures and high precipitation.
How the zebra got its stripes: a problem with too many solutions
TLDR
It is found that temperature successfully predicts a substantial amount of the stripe pattern variation observed in plains zebra, and it is suggested that the selective agents driving zebra striping are probably multifarious and complex.
How the Zebra got its Rump Stripes: Salience at Distance and in Motion
TLDR
Zebra stripes likely evolved to deter biting flies, but rump stripes are ill-suited to this, and benefits of rump stripe salience may counteract anti-parasite benefits and costs of conspicuity to shape rump and shadow stripe variation.
Benefits of zebra stripes: Behaviour of tabanid flies around zebras and horses
TLDR
Analysis of the behaviour of tabanids in the vicinity of captive plains zebras and uniformly coloured domestic horses living on a horse farm in Britain indicates that, up close, striped surfaces prevented flies from making a controlled landing but did not influence tabanid behaviour at a distance.
Zebras and Biting Flies: Quantitative Analysis of Reflected Light from Zebra Coats in Their Natural Habitat
TLDR
Observations support hypotheses in which zebra stripes defeat visually guided orienting behavior in flies by a mechanism independent of polarotaxis.
Zebra stripes, tabanid biting flies and the aperture effect
TLDR
The observations that flies avoided landing on, flew faster near, and did not approach as close to striped and checked rugs compared to grey refutes the hypothesis that stripes disrupt optic flow via the aperture effect, which critically demands parallel striped patterns.
Do zebra stripes influence thermoregulation?
TLDR
The data and observations suggest that the primary function of the stripes may be thermoregulation and a secondary benefit, fly-deterrence, which explains the lower temperatures of living zebra stripes than those of the inanimate hide.
Concordance on zebra stripes is not black and white: response to comment by Caro & Stankowich (2015)
TLDR
Both Caro and Stankowich would like readers to believe that both sets of data strongly support the notion that the evolution of striping has been driven by tabanid flies, however, readers are divided on their interpretation.
Striping patterns may not influence social interactions and mating in zebra: Observations from melanic zebra in South Africa
Colouration serves many functions in animals including crypsis, aposematism, mimicry, intraspecific communication, communication between species and thermoregulation (Caro, Caswell Stoddard, &…
Kingdon on Colouration: Crested Rats, Guenons and Zebras
  • T. Caro
  • Art
    Journal of East African Natural History
  • 2015
TLDR
Jonathan Kingdon is recognised for his profound knowledge of natural history and his meticulous and superb drawings of African mammals, where his colour paintings and his black and white drawings depict the patterning of coat colours exceptionally well.
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