Some general comments on the evolution and design of animal communication systems

Abstract

Animal communication systems have evolved so that individuals can make decisions based upon the behaviour, physiology or morphology of others. Receiving mechanisms probably evolve to increase the efficiency and reliability of information reception whereas signals probably evolve to increase the efficiency of communication and reliability of manipulation of the receiving individual to the benefit of the emitter. The minimum requirement for clear reception suggests that any study of the evolution and design of communication systems must consider the factors that affect the quality of the received and processed signal. Critical information is needed about how the signal is generated and emitted, how it fares during transmission through air, water or substrate, how it is received and processed by the receiver's sensory and cognitive systems, and the factors which affect the fitness consequences of alternative ways of reacting to the information contained in the signal. These should allow predictions about the kinds and forms of signals used by animals signalling under known conditions. Phylogenetic history, and the geological time a clade spends in different signalling environments, will also affect signal evolution, and hence the success of predictions about signal design. We need to use methods of many different biological fields to understand the design and evolution of signals and signalling systems.

Acoustic signals in cicada courtship behaviour (order Hemiptera, genus Tibicina)

“…Tibicina courtship communication could then be multi-modal, a system that increases communication efficiency (Endler, 1993;Rowe, 1999).…”

Assessment of Potential Predation Costs of Male Decoration and Courtship Display in Wolf Spiders Using Video Digitization and Playback

“…from previous studies were used as video playback stimuli in this research (McClintock and Uetz, 1996;Hebets and Uetz, 2000). Male courtship sequences of each Schizocosa species were previously videotaped, and samples were captured, digitized, rendered frame-by-frame to a standardized background, and reanimated as described by Clark and Uetz (1990, 1993, McClintock and Uetz (1996), and Hebets and Uetz (2000). Courting male Schizocosa were videotaped using a JVC GX-N8 camera and a Panasonic HRS-101 VHS video recorder.…”

Leg ornamentation and the efficacy of courtship display in four species of wolf spider (Araneae: Lycosidae)

“…Courtship signals may not only include species recognition components, but must successfully elicit female receptivity. Displays used in sexual interactions are typically designed for detectability, and while there are several factors that can increase the detectability of a signal (Guilford and Stamp Dawkins 1991), there are associated costs (Ryan and Rand 1990;Endler 1991Endler , 1993. As is common throughout all aspects of animal behavior, the signaler must maximize the efficacy of the signal while minimizing its associated costs.…”