Signal response is context-dependent in Polistes dominula
Signal response is context-dependent in Polistes dominula
复制标题
马蜂的信号反应取决于环境
作者：
M. Simons;E. Tibbetts
理论表明，诚实的状态信号介导不熟悉的个体之间的竞争性互动，但在熟悉的个体之间的互动中可能不那么重要。很少有研究在多种情况下测试接收器对状态信号的响应。波利斯特斯dominula面部有斑点，通过向未知的对手传达战斗能力来表示竞争能力。我们在两个实验中测试了接收器对实验性改变的面部斑点的反应，其中两个实验是（1）在工人出现之前的筑巢蚁后之间，以及（2）在蚁后右巢的工人之间。我们发现，对实验和控制黄蜂的侵略没有差异，表明P. dominula不使用面部标记与熟悉的黄蜂在巢中的相互作用。相反，面部模式主要是在与不熟悉的对手进行竞争性互动时。因此，社会背景在信号反应中起着关键作用。
Theory suggests honest status signals mediate agonistic interactions between unfamiliar individuals, but may be less important during interactions between familiar individuals. Few studies have tested receiver responses to status signals in multiple contexts. Polistes dominula have facial spots that signal agonistic ability by communicating fighting abilities to unknown rivals. We test receiver response to experimentally altered facial spots during on-nest interactions in two experiments (1) between nest-founding queens prior to worker emergence and (2) between workers on queenright nests. We found no difference in aggression towards experimental and control wasps, indicating that P. dominula do not use facial markings during interactions with familiar wasps on nests. Instead, facial patterns are primarily during agonistic interactions with unfamiliar rivals. Therefore, social context plays a key role in signal response.