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.感觉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.感觉生态学与通讯信号复杂性的关系。本建议的具体目标：*1。昆虫的听觉处理。1a. Ormia ochracea的定向听力。这些是寄生蝇，它们通过定位雄性蟋蟀的歌声来寻找宿主，它们具有无与伦比的准确性。目前的工作解决了新的方面的听力在这个系统中，包括可塑性，海拔敏感性（3D定位），和近场听力幼虫的上下文中（一个独特的行为背景下，远程phonotaxis）。1b.积极倾听。主动听觉机制已被确定在各种各样的类群。我们发现，树蟋蟀的听觉活跃，与明确的生态功能（温度依赖性调谐）有关。我建议对存在主动力学的不同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.振动感觉信号。蜘蛛对振动刺激的编码、识别和定位的细节主要来自于对少数物种的研究。有相当大的变化，在网络的结构和材料性能的丝绸，和越来越多的兴趣在这些因素之间的关系和传播和处理的振动刺激。拟议中的关于蜘蛛网居住的寡妇蜘蛛的工作将研究网和丝的机械特性;识别振动信号和线索（猎物与同种），并将这些与信号传播的变化联系起来，作为网络特性的函数。3.通信和信号复杂性的演变。3a.竞争信号。本文以直翅目昆虫和跳蛛为研究对象，探讨了信号代价在通信和竞争中的作用。我将继续正在进行的工作相关的能量消耗的措施（呼吸）与个体差异的竞争成功和信号质量（声音信号在昆虫;振动信号在蜘蛛）的信号的代谢成本。3b.振动信号结构。目前的工作寡妇蜘蛛文件的进展，从偶然的结构化信号在一个单一的显示序列。因此，它们是测试信号组织功能意义的良好模型。拟议的工作将整合这些行为研究与振动传感器工作（2）的振动信号的感觉生态学的综合研究（从物理约束，感觉编码，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).