Dissertation Research: Acoustic Communication in a Subsocial Invertebrate

小行星9311109摩尔 非纳米比亚人的交流是具有结构化社会系统的人口的一个特征。 尽管如此，个体之间交流信号的差异在建立和维持稳定的社会组织方面可能是重要的。 然而，遗传基础和声学通信的变化的后果知之甚少。 Deborah C.女士克拉克的博士论文研究将试图澄清声音通信的作用，在男性之间的竞争亚社会无脊椎动物，Gromphadorhina portentosa。 这种蟑螂物种以其雄性之间的竞争性相互作用而闻名，涉及多种复杂的行为，包括使用竞争性嘶嘶声。 使用行为，声学和遗传技术，克拉克女士将量化个体之间的频率，幅度，持续时间和男性之间的相互作用过程中发生的嘶嘶声的时间模式的变化。 Clark女士将估计激动性嘶嘶声特征的遗传方差和协方差，并将进行实验以研究嘶嘶声中变异的功能。 这项研究是独特的调查社会竞争和声学通信的亚社会无脊椎动物。 这些研究将解决与通信中声信号的演变和使用有关的重要问题。

9311109 Moore Unambiguous communication is a feature of populations that have structured social systems. Nonetheless, variation among individuals in their communication signals may be important in the establishment and maintenance of stable social organizations. However, the genetic basis and consequences of variation in acoustic communication are poorly understood. Ms. Deborah C. Clark's doctoral-dissertation research will attempt to clarify the role of acoustic communication in competition between males of a subsocial invertebrate, Gromphadorhina portentosa. This cockroach species is notable for its agonistic interactions among males, involving diverse and complex behavior including the use of agonistic hisses. Using behavioral, acoustic, and genetic techniques, Ms. Clark will quantify the variation among individuals in frequency, amplitude, duration, and temporal pattern of hisses occurring during interactions between males. Ms. Clark will estimate genetic variances and covariances for characteristics of agonistic hisses, and will conduct experiments to investigate the function of variation in hisses. This research is unique in investigating social competition and acoustic communication in a subsocial invertebrate. These studies will address important issues relevant to the evolution and use of acoustic signals in communication.