Collaborative Research: Sensory Ecology of an Animal Communication Network - Social and Environmental Contexts

动物的交流通常涉及明显而复杂的信号，这些信号受到选择的青睐，因为它们是潜在配偶的首选，但也被通信网络中的竞争对手男性和捕食者窃听。信号的演变也受到通信发生的物理环境的影响。在这项研究中，研究人员将研究男性信号的各个方面如何最大限度地提高目标女性接收器的接收和响应，和/或减少窃听者的利用。实验室实验和野外研究将解决两个问题：1）森林地面落叶的物理环境（光谱，植被背景）如何影响预期接收者（雌性狼蛛）和窃听者（雄性狼蛛，捕食蟾蜍和跳蛛）对雄性信号的检测和辨别？该研究使用数字视频/音频回放技术来改变男性信号和环境背景（颜色，视觉复杂度），以测试视觉信号（运动，背景对比度）和/或多模态信号（视觉和振动信号）的使用如何影响检测和区分。 2)社会背景（男性密度，先前的经验）如何影响女性和男性窃听者对信号的反应？ 实验将修改社会环境（男性密度，遇到的经验，配偶的选择），信号的信息内容（明显的男性质量），和感官线索（视觉，振动），以确定其对女性和男性窃听者的影响。 总之，研究结果将有助于更好地了解复杂环境中动物交流的功能和演变。该项目将通过一所研究型大学和一所小型文理学院之间的合作，促进教学、培训和学习（阿尔马学院）并以多种方式与辛辛那提自然中心合作：两个机构的研究生和本科生的参与（包括代表性不足的族裔群体和妇女）参加研究生交流计划、“顶点经验”和“春季学期”课程，以及公开讲座和研讨会。

Animal communication often involves conspicuous and complex signals that are favored by selection because they are preferred by potential mates, but are also exploited by eavesdropping competitor males and predators within a communication network. The evolution of signals is also influenced by the physical environment in which communication takes place. In this study, researchers will investigate how aspects of male signals maximize reception and response of targeted female receivers, and/or reduce exploitation by eavesdroppers. Lab experiments and field studies will address two questions: 1) How does the physical environment of forest floor leaf litter (light spectrum, vegetation background) affect detection and discrimination of male signals by intended receivers (female wolf spiders) and eavesdroppers (male wolf spiders, predatory toads and jumping spiders)? The research uses digital video/audio playback technology to alter male signals and environmental backgrounds (color, visual complexity), to test how aspects of visual signals (motion, background contrast) and/or use of multimodal signals (visual and vibration signals) affect detection and discrimination. 2) How does the social context (male density, prior experience) influence responses to signals by females and male eavesdroppers? Experiments will modify the social environment (male density, encounter experience, mate options available), information content of signals (apparent male quality), and sensory cues (visual, vibration) to determine their influence on females and male eavesdroppers. Taken together, results will allow a better understanding of the function and evolution of animal communication in complex environments. This project will promote teaching, training and learning through collaboration between a research university and a small liberal arts college (Alma College) and a partnership with the Cincinnati Nature Center in multiple ways: involvement of graduate and undergraduate students from both institutions (including under-represented ethnic groups and women) in a research student exchange program, "capstone experience" and "spring term" courses, and public lectures and workshops.