CAREER: Evolution and Function of Complex Signaling in the Wolf Spider Genus Schizocosa

动物可以使用几种感觉模式进行交流，最近的研究强调了复杂信号在动物展示中的普遍存在(例如，多个信号的组合通常跨越多个感觉模式)。关于复杂信号的进化和功能存在几个假设，包括关于(A)所传达的信息内容或消息(S)，(B)信号(S)通过环境并被接收器接收和/或处理的有效性，以及(C)一个信号改变第二信号的产生、接收或处理的可能性的假设。本项目旨在了解狼蛛属裂殖吸虫中复杂信号的进化和功能。在Schizocosa内部，多模式求爱信号(视觉加地震)已经多次独立演变。该项目研究了7个物种的11个裂殖吸虫种群中信号效力、信号含量的作用，以及两者对复杂信号功能的潜在相互依赖性，并使用了基于野外和实验室的数据收集和实验。这项研究的结果不仅将提供关于选择压力影响复杂信号进化的基础信息，还可能提供关于特定通道的感觉感知和处理、通道之间的神经元相互作用以及多通道信号对信号检测/辨别以及学习和记忆的影响的细节的见解。除了为本科生和研究生提供无数研究机会外，这项研究还将被纳入内布拉斯加州大学大红色周的青年科学夏令营。参与该项目的科学家将与中西部的农村青年团体以及南部的教会青年团体和女童子军一起领导夜间蜘蛛狩猎，以帮助提高公众的科学意识。该项目还将极大地促进内布拉斯加州大学州立博物馆的无脊椎动物收藏。

Animals can use several sensory modalities to communicate and recent research highlights the prevalence of complex signaling in animal displays (e.g. the combination of more than one signal often across multiple sensory modalities). Several hypotheses exist regarding the evolution and function of complex signaling including hypotheses relating to (a) the information content or message(s) conveyed, (b) the efficacy with which a signal(s) travels through the environment and is received and/or processed by a receiver, and (c) the potential for one signal to alter either the production, reception, or processing of a second signal. This project is aimed at understanding the evolution and function of complex signaling in the wolf spider genus Schizocosa. Within Schizocosa, multimodal courtship signaling (visual plus seismic) has evolved independently multiple times. This project examines the role of signal efficacy, signal content, and the potential interdependence of the two on complex signal function across 11 populations of Schizocosa encompassing 7 species and uses both field and laboratory based data collection and experimentation. Results from this study will not only provide foundational information regarding selection pressures influencing the evolution of complex signaling, but they will also likely provide insights into the details of modality-specific sensory perception and processing, neuronal interactions between modalities, and the influence of multimodal signals on signal detection/discrimination and learning and memory.In addition to providing innumerable research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, this research will be incorporated into a youth science camp during the University of Nebraska's Big Red Week. Scientists involved in the project will help increase the public's scientific awareness by leading nighttime spider hunts with rural youth groups in the Midwest and with church youth groups and Girl Scout Troops across the south. This project will also contribute greatly to the invertebrate collection at the University of Nebraska State Museum.