Complex sensory signals: function and mechanism

我的研究计划旨在将自然行为及其适应性约束的研究与潜在神经机制的分析相结合，以解决以下领域的基本和实际问题。A.感官定向任务中线索整合的共同原则。B.感官知觉的简单模型。C.通讯中感官生态与信号复杂性的关系。本提案具体目标：***1；昆虫听觉处理。1一个。奥克拉马的定向听力。这是一种寄生蝇，它们通过定位雄蟋蟀的叫声来寻找宿主，这种叫声具有无与伦比的方向性听觉。目前的工作涉及该系统中听力的新维度，包括可塑性，仰角灵敏度（3D定位）和幼虫位置下的近场听力（远程趋声性后的独特行为背景）。1 b。活跃的听证会。主动听觉机制已在许多分类群中被发现。我们发现树蟋蟀的积极听觉与一种明确的生态功能（温度依赖调节）有关。我建议对存在主动力学的昆虫系统进行比较研究，以测试主动听觉力学的机制和功能。***2。振动感官信号。蜘蛛对振动刺激的编码、识别和定位的细节主要是通过对少数物种的研究而知道的。蛛丝的结构和材料特性有很大的差异，这些因素与振动刺激的传播和处理之间的关系越来越引起人们的兴趣。关于居住在蜘蛛网中的寡妇蜘蛛的拟议工作将检查网和丝的机械特性；表征振动信号和线索（猎物与同种动物），并将这些与信号传播的变化联系起来，作为网络属性的函数。***3。通信和信号复杂性的演变。3 a。竞争的信号。本研究以直翅目昆虫和跳蛛为研究对象，研究了信号成本在交流和竞争中的作用。我将通过将能量消耗测量（呼吸测量）与竞争成功和信号质量（昆虫的声音信号；蜘蛛的振动信号）的个体差异相关联，继续进行信号代谢成本的研究。3 b。振动信号结构。目前对寡妇蜘蛛的研究记录了在单一显示序列中从偶然信号到结构化信号的进展。因此，它们是检验信号组织功能意义的一个很好的模型。拟议的工作将把这些行为研究与振动感觉工作(2)结合起来，对振动信号的感觉生态进行综合研究（从物理约束，到感觉编码，再到行为）。

My research program seeks to integrate studies of natural behaviour and its adaptive constraints with analyses of underlying neural mechanism to address fundamental and practical questions in the following areas. A. Common principles for integration of cues in sensory orientation tasks. B. Simple models of sensory perception. C. Relationship between sensory ecology and signal complexity in communication. Specific objectives for this proposal:***1. Insect auditory processing. 1a. Directional hearing in Ormia ochracea. These are parasitoid flies that find hosts by localizing the songs of male crickets with directional hearing of unsurpassed accuracy. Current work addresses novel dimensions of hearing in this system, including plasticity, elevation sensitivity (3D localization), and near-field hearing in the context of larviposition (a distinct behavioural context following long-range phonotaxis). 1b. Active hearing. Active auditory mechanics have been identified in a wide variety of taxa. We showed active hearing in tree crickets linked to a clear ecological function (temperature-dependent tuning). I propose comparative studies of insect systems that differ in the presence of active mechanics to test mechanisms and functions of active auditory mechanics.***2. Vibrational sensory signals. Details of coding, recognition, and localisation of vibration stimuli by spiders are primarily known from work on few species. There is considerable variation in the structure of webs and material properties of silk, and growing interest in the relationship between these factors and the propagation and processing of vibration stimuli. Proposed work on cobweb-dwelling widow spiders will examine mechanical properties of webs and silk; characterise vibration signals and cues (prey vs conspecifics) and link these to variation in signal propagation as a function of web properties.***3. Evolution of communication and signal complexity. 3a. Competitive signals. This work is focused the role of signal costs in communication and competition, using the orthopteran insects and jumping spiders. I will continue on-going work on metabolic costs of signalling by correlating measures of energy consumption (respirometry) with individual variation in competitive success and signal quality (acoustic signals in insects; vibratory signals in spiders). 3b. Vibrational signal structure. Current work on widow spiders documents a progression from haphazard to structured signals within a single display sequence. They are therefore a good model for testing the functional significance of signal organization. Proposed work will integrate these behavioural studies with vibrosensory work (2) for an integrative study of the sensory ecology of vibrational signals (from physical constraints, to sensory coding, to behaviour).