Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology最新文献

{"title":"Bumblebees display stimulus-specific persistence behaviour after being trained on delayed reinforcement","authors":"Yonghe Zhou, HaDi MaBouDi, Chaoyang Peng, Hiruni Samadi Galpayage Dona, Selene Gutierrez Al-Khudhairy, Lars Chittka, Cwyn Solvi, Fei Peng","doi":"10.1007/s00265-023-03414-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-023-03414-7","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Abstract</h3><p>In uncertain environments, animals often face the challenge of deciding whether to stay with their current foraging option or leave to pursue the next opportunity. The voluntary decision to persist at a location or with one option is a critical cognitive ability in animal temporal decision-making. Little is known about whether foraging insects form temporal expectations of reward and how these expectations affect their learning and rapid, short-term foraging decisions. Here, we trained bumblebees on a simple colour discrimination task whereby they entered different opaque tunnels surrounded by coloured discs (artificial flowers) and received reinforcement (appetitive sugar water or aversive quinine solution depending on flower colour). One group received reinforcement immediately and the other after a variable delay (0–3 s). We then recorded how long bees were willing to wait/persist when reinforcement was delayed indefinitely. Bumblebees trained with delays voluntarily stayed in tunnels longer than bees trained without delays. Delay-trained bees also waited/persisted longer after choosing the reward-associated flower compared to the punishment-associated flower, suggesting stimulus-specific temporal associations. Strikingly, while training with delayed reinforcement did not affect colour discrimination, it appeared to facilitate the generalisation of temporal associations to ambiguous stimuli in bumblebees. Our findings suggest that bumblebees can be trained to form temporal expectations, and that these expectations can be incorporated into their decision-making processes, highlighting bumblebees’ cognitive flexibility in temporal information usage.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Significance statement</h3><p>The willingness to voluntarily wait or persist for potential reward is a critical aspect of decision-making during foraging. Investigating the willingness to persist across various species can shed light on the evolutionary development of temporal decision-making and related processes. This study revealed that bumblebees trained with delays to reinforcement from individual flowers were able to form temporal expectations, which, in turn, generalised to ambiguous stimuli. These findings contribute to our understanding of temporal cognition in an insect and the potential effects of delayed rewards on foraging behaviour.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139052491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exorcising the ghost in the computer: ChatGPT, science publishing, and GenAI policy for Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","authors":"Theo C. M. Bakker, J. Traniello","doi":"10.1007/s00265-023-03416-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-023-03416-5","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":"38 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139164473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intraspecific variation in invertebrate cognition: a review","authors":"Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato, Claudio Carere, David Baracchi","doi":"10.1007/s00265-023-03413-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-023-03413-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A well-established field of research in vertebrates focuses on the variability of cognitive abilities within species. From mammals to fish, numerous studies have revealed remarkable differences in the cognitive phenotype among individuals, particularly in terms of sex or personality. However, many aspects of the mechanisms, genetics, and selective pressures that underlie individual cognitive variation remain unclear. Surprisingly, intraspecific variability in cognition has received much less attention in invertebrates, despite the increasing evidence of remarkable cognitive abilities in this group and the insights that could be gained from examining simultaneously two distinct taxa, namely vertebrates and invertebrates. In this review, we provide evidence that certain invertebrate species exhibit all the key features of cognitive variation observed in vertebrates, including differences related to sex and personality. In many cases, invertebrate studies have provided insights into the genetic basis, evolvability and response to selection of cognitive variability. Moreover, we highlight evidence for caste differences in eusocial insects, which are linked to task specialisation within the colony. This makes insect eusociality a valuable system for understanding how selection influences cognitive variation. We propose that cognitive variation in invertebrates may be more widespread than currently thought, and that selection may operate in a similar manner on two distantly related cognitive systems (vertebrates and invertebrates). Finally, we suggest that invertebrates hold the potential to serve both as alternative and complementary models to vertebrates, contributing to a deeper understanding of cognitive evolution.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138687950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"To hatch and hatch not: does heterochrony in onset of vestibular mechanosensing explain species differences in escape-hatching success of Agalychnis embryos in snake attacks?","authors":"Brandon A. Güell, Karen M. Warkentin","doi":"10.1007/s00265-023-03417-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-023-03417-4","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Abstract</h3><p>Phyllomedusid treefrogs hatch prematurely to escape egg predation, but escape success varies among species. Snake attacks elicited 55% less escape hatching in spontaneously hatching <i>Agalychnis spurrelli</i> than in less developed <i>A. callidryas</i>. <i>Agalychnis callidryas</i> use their vestibular system and, secondarily, their lateral line to sense physical disturbances that cue hatching. Since <i>A. spurrelli</i> develop faster, we hypothesized that heterochronic shifts in the onset timing of vestibular mechanosensory function, relative to hatching ability, might explain their lower escape response to mechanosensory cues. To test this, we compared onset timings of hypoxia- and mechanosensory-cued hatching (MCH) and vestibular mechanosensory function in developmental series of both species. Across species, most sibships began responding to each cue at the same developmental stage and vestibular function development, measured by the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), was similar. These results demonstrate that low escape-hatching success in <i>A.</i> <i>spurrelli</i> is not caused by a delay in the onset of vestibular mechanosensory function. MCH onset in <i>A. spurrelli</i> was associated with VOR, but with a higher threshold than in <i>A. callidryas.</i> The absence of MCH before strong vestibular function suggests multimodal mechanosensing may not contribute to antipredator responses of <i>A. spurrelli</i> embryos. Our observations of higher escape success of larger clutches in snake attacks and hatching complications in flooded <i>A. spurrelli</i> suggest that differences in clutch and egg capsule structure may contribute directly to species differences in escape-hatching success. Moreover, hatching complications in <i>A. spurrelli</i> may select against false alarms, increasing the stringency of hatching decision rules.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Significance statement</h3><p>Hatching is an essential life-stage transition during development. For some species, it also functions as an effective defense against egg-stage risks. However, the causes for variation in environmentally cued hatching responses are poorly understood. We assessed why two closely related treefrogs exhibit different escape-hatching responses to snake attacks. Comparing the onset of induced-hatching responses and vestibular function in <i>Agalychnis callidryas</i> and <i>A. spurrelli</i> revealed that the primary mechanism for mechanosensing and its developmental timing are conserved within this group, but the sensory function threshold for behavioral response differs. It also revealed that egg-clutch properties, including egg-clutch size and individual egg structure, affect the escape-hatching response. This motivates further research assessing the role of egg-clutch properties and their biomechanics in embryo escape-hatching responses.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":"51 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138688003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Maternal parity influences the birth sex ratio and birth interval of captive Francois’ langur (Trachypithecus francoisi)","authors":"Bojun Yi, Song Wang, Tao Sun, Ruoshuang Liu, Michael J. Lawes, Li Yang, Xuefeng Liu, Yifeng Li, Chengming Huang, Qihai Zhou, Penglai Fan","doi":"10.1007/s00265-023-03408-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-023-03408-5","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Abstract</h3><p>The age and parity of female primates could reflect their physical condition and reproductive experience. Consequently, the individual age-parity dependent condition of mothers and the survival of their offspring represents a fitness tradeoff. This reproductive tradeoff is expressed in the individual birth sex ratio, offspring mortality and interbirth interval (IBI). Maternal antenatal and postnatal investment hypotheses predict that more female offspring are produced by experienced mothers in poor condition (Trivers-Willard hypothesis), and that offspring mortality decreases and IBI shortens with parity (targeted reproductive effort hypothesis). Here we test the latter predictions in captive populations of the endangered Francois’ langur (<i>Trachypithecus francoisi</i>), using long-term demographic and reproductive data from 21 Chinese zoos and three breeding centers. In these captive populations, birth sex ratio changed slightly from male-biased to female-biased as parity increased above five offspring in experienced mothers, consistent with the Trivers-Willard hypothesis. Although mortality of male offspring was greater than female offspring, overall offspring mortality did not vary with maternal parity. There was no significant difference in duration of postnatal care or IBI between male and female offspring. However, IBI for both female and male offspring shortened overall with increasing parity, as predicted by the targeted reproductive effort hypothesis. Females with more reproductive experience that produce more female offspring are critical to captive breeding programs that aim to increase the overall viable population size of this endangered species.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Significance statement</h3><p>For primates with a slow life-history, it is important to understand how mothers age and parity affects their reproductive fitness. We investigated maternal investment strategies of captive Francois’ langurs, specifically the effect of age and parity on the birth sex ratio, offspring mortality and interbirth interval. Mothers relied more on parity (i.e., their experience) to adjust the birth sex ratio, and had more sons in the first few parities. Mothers also spent significantly less time taking care of offspring as their reproductive experience increased and physical condition was likely declining. Thus, Francois’ langurs are able to adjust their investment in reproduction as they become more experienced (greater parity) to optimize reproductive fitness.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138632140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Testing presence of directionality information in female spider silk trails through male trail-following behavior","authors":"Michelle Beyer, Kardelen Özgün Uludag, Maylis Lailler, Jonas O. Wolff, Monika J. B. Eberhard, Tomer J. Czaczkes, Cristina Tuni","doi":"10.1007/s00265-023-03386-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-023-03386-8","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Abstract</h3><p>Mate search is challenging for solitary species. Trails represent a particularly potent, target-oriented means for finding mates, as trail-following increases encounter rates between individuals compared to random search. Embedding directionality information into the trail allows individuals to follow trails correctly to the source. Yet, directionality remains poorly understood. Spiders deposit trails during locomotion consisting of silk lines and substrate-borne chemicals. We conducted multiple experiments to test whether female silk trails convey directionality information, whether directionality is chemically or structurally encoded and depends on female phenotype. We also examined whether males interact with silk in a way that suggests information gathering. We exposed males of the cursorial spider <i>Pisaura mirabilis</i> to female trails deposited unidirectionally and scored their trail-following direction (i.e., same as or opposite to the females’). Tests were repeated after washing trails with a solvent to remove putative chemicals and by sourcing silk from females of different feeding regimes. While we found little evidence for male directional trail-following, we did find that unwashed trails were more likely to be followed than washed trails. Similarly, trails of relatively larger females were more likely to be followed correctly than those of smaller females. Males extensively probed and pulled on silk lines with their appendages, suggesting the gathering of chemical and tactile information. Taken together, results suggest that directional trail-following is selected only under specific contexts in this species. Chemical attributes of trails may convey information on female quality, with directional trail-following reflecting male mate choice in a system characterized by costly male nuptial gifts.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Significance statement</h3><p>In the context of male mate search, following conspecific trails increases the chances of encountering a mating partner, especially if trails provide information about the direction the conspecific went. Yet, trail directionality remains poorly understood. Female spiders deposit silk trails as they walk. We overall show that males follow trails directionally only under a specific context. Males were more likely to follow correctly when trails were unmanipulated (compared to being washed with solvents to remove chemicals) and when they were deposited by relatively larger females (compared to smaller ones). Chemical attributes of trails may potentially indicate directionality, while decoding movement direction from trails of larger females may reflect male preferences for females of higher reproductive value.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":"51 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138688270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Kinship study reveals stable non-kin-based associations in a medium-sized delphinid","authors":"Karin L. Hartman, Ing Chen, Pieter A. van der Harst, Andre E. Moura, Marlene Jahnke, Malgorzata Pilot, Raul Vilela, A. Rus Hoelzel","doi":"10.1007/s00265-023-03411-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-023-03411-w","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Abstract</h3><p>Delphinids display a wide variety of social structures, in which local food availability and defensibility, sexual size dimorphism and interbirth intervals ultimately influence the role of kin within social units. Earlier studies of the social ecology of Risso’s dolphins (<i>Grampus griseus</i>) off Pico Island, the Azores, revealed a sexually stratified social structure, with long-term stable, strongly associated male clusters and temporally weakly associated female clusters. Here we test the predictions that inclusive fitness plays a role in social cohesion and structure and that both sexes are philopatric in this population. We found no correlation between association and relatedness for either males or females. Our results therefore do not support inclusive fitness as an explanation for the stable clusters of males, who instead associate with partners of a similar age, less likely to be kin due to a long inter-birth interval. Genetic data did not reveal clear sex-biased dispersal. We propose that unlike the pattern seen in some other dolphin species, the socio-genetic structure found in Risso’s dolphins is not associated with inclusive fitness but linked instead to the open oceanic habitat and the species’ life history traits.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Significance statement</h3><p>Studying societies of wild cetaceans poses additional challenges compared to terrestrial mammals, since we can generally only observe behavior when individuals come (close) to the surface for breathing. Yet such studies can expand our knowledge on the links between ecology and social structure (e.g. the remarkable parallels between societies of sperm whales and elephants). This study makes a meaningful contribution, by establishing that the long-term stable male and temporally stable female associations found in earlier studies of Risso’s dolphins in the Azores are not based on kinship. Accordingly, despite very different ecological contexts, there are striking similarities between the male Risso’s dolphin clusters and the second-order alliances found in male Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia. This offers great potential to enhance our understanding of drivers of male cooperation by further comparative research on two long-term studied systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":"99 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138575856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental manipulation of chest spotting alters territorial aggression in urban and rural song sparrows","authors":"Michelle L. Beck, Kendra B. Sewall, Ҫağlar Akҫay","doi":"10.1007/s00265-023-03396-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-023-03396-6","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Abstract</h3><p>In many taxa, melanin-based coloration is a signal of dominance or fighting ability and is associated with concentrations of hormones that may mediate aggressive behavior. Previous studies found that experimental manipulation of melanin-based signals can result in manipulated individuals receiving more social challenges in some but not all species. These differences could arise from mismatches between the signal, behavior, and hormone concentrations. In the present study, we experimentally manipulated the chest spotting of urban and rural male song sparrows (<i>Melospiza melodia</i>) following an assessment of their territorial aggression and initial concentrations of corticosterone and testosterone and then assessed their behavior and hormone concentrations 2 weeks later. We found that males generally displayed less territorial aggression in the second trial, consistent with our previous findings. Males in the enlarged treatment decreased aggression to a greater degree than those in the reduced treatment. The effect of the plumage manipulation was similar across the rural and urban habitats. Despite the changes in behavior we detected, we found no effects of the manipulation on concentrations of testosterone or corticosterone. Our results show that melanin-based spotting in male song sparrows is a signal of territorial aggression but the physiological mechanisms that mediate the relationships between chest spotting and behavior remain to be identified.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Significance statement</h3><p>Many bird species use their plumage to signal their dominance status, fighting ability, or motivation during interactions with other individuals to resolve conflicts without a fight. Here, we asked whether chest spotting is a signal in territorial interactions among male song sparrows. We experimentally increased or reduced the extent of spotting in males and measured the change in their aggression. We found that reduced-spotting males showed a more moderate seasonal decrease of aggression compared to males with enlarged spotting reduced aggression, possibly because the former experienced more intrusions later on in the breeding season while the latter experienced fewer intrusions. These results are consistent with chest spotting size in song sparrows functioning as a signal of territory holding potential of the bearer.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138575752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sexual selection on a female copulatory device in an insect with nuptial gifts","authors":"Jessica H. Browne, Darryl T. Gwynne","doi":"10.1007/s00265-023-03415-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-023-03415-6","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Abstract</h3><p>Male genitalia are rapidly evolving structures, often driven by sexual selection to increase fertilisation success. Although sexual selection on females can be strong in systems where males provide offspring care or feed their mates, sometimes resulting in the evolution of female ornamentation, there are no actual estimates of direct sexual selection on female genitalia. In a New Zealand ground weta, <i>Hemiandrus pallitarsis</i> (Orthoptera: Ensifera, Anostostomatidae), females possess a genitalic device (the accessory organ) that is necessary for successful copulation and the acquisition of glandular food-gifts from males. These nutritious gifts are known to result in sexual competition among females in other ensiferan species. In ground weta, the gifts are probably important in avoiding starvation during a months-long period when caring for (their lifetime production of) eggs and offspring. Here, we test the hypothesis that the accessory organ is a sexually selected device in <i>H. pallitarsis</i> by measuring the female Bateman gradient, Jones index, and directional sexual selection on the accessory organ. Using newly developed and characterised microsatellite loci, we analyse offspring and/or stored sperm to estimate female mating frequency for the first time in ground weta. As predicted, we found both a positive Bateman gradient and Jones index for females, and evidence of directional sexual selection on accessory organ length. Although organ length does not correlate well with female fecundity, it may increase mating success by indicating her condition and thus quality of her offspring care.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Significance statement</h3><p>Female genitalia have largely been studied in the context of exerting selection on males, while the potential for selection on females via mate acquisition or manipulation of males is virtually unstudied. Such selection may be relevant in systems where males make investments in reproduction (offspring-care; mate-feeding), and females are subject to strong sexual selection, occasionally possessing sexual ornaments. Using microsatellite analysis of offspring and stored sperm to estimate mating frequency, we provide the first evidence of directional sexual selection on a female genital device (accessory organ) found in species of maternal care-providing ground weta. In our focal species, <i>Hemiandrus pallitarsis</i>, we found that females with more mates produced more offspring and females with longer accessory organs obtained more mates. These findings suggest that the female genital device is a secondary sexual trait, although may have additional mechanical functions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138575644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Testing the factors on the evolution of movement-based visual signal complexity in an Asian agamid lizard","authors":"Yusong Lin, Xia Qiu, Jinzhong Fu, Richard Peters, Yin Qi","doi":"10.1007/s00265-023-03412-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-023-03412-9","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Abstract</h3><p>Elucidating the factors that influence the evolution of signal complexity is essential in understanding animal communication. Compared to vocal and color signals, movement-based visual signals only start to attract attention recently. In this study, we tested the social complexity (social structure promotes signal complexity) and background noise hypotheses (background noise promotes signal complexity) on the evolution of movement-based visual signal complexity. We collected display signals from twelve populations across the distribution range of the Asian agamid lizard, <i>Phrynocephalus przewalskii</i>. Their various components (tail coil, tail lash, body turning, and limb flapping) were quantified. Furthermore, we measured the population density and sexual size dimorphism (SSD), as estimates of social complexity, and estimate background noise using presence of plant and wind speed. We tested associations between measurements of variability in individual signal components and the overall display with estimates of social complexity and background noise using linear mixed models. We found evidence to suggest that both SSD and the noise environment impact the delivery of multiple display components, particularly the duration and maximum speed of display components. Importantly, our findings suggest that social and environmental factors do not impact males and females equally. Our data are consistent with both social complexity and background noise hypotheses, and our research provides direct evidence on the links among display complexity, social complexity, and background noise.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Significance statement</h3><p>The evolution of animal signal complexity has fascinated biologists for generations. We know much about vocal and color signals; nevertheless, movement-based visual signals only start to attract attention recently. Here we tested the factors influencing the evolution of display complexity using <i>P. przewalskii</i> as a study system, particularly around the social complexity (social structure promotes signal complexity) and background noise hypotheses (background noise promotes signal complexity). Our data are consistent with both social complexity and background noise hypotheses and provide direct evidence on the links among movement-based visual signal complexity, social complexity, and background noise.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":"53 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2023-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138569494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}