Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: Across animal species, males convey important information to potential mates through signals in multiple sensory modalities.In order to choose the best possible mate, female receivers must accurately perceive and assess male multimodal signals, especially when those signals occur simultaneously with those of other males.Cross-modal integration, i.e., cognitive binding of information transmitted in more than one sensory signal mode, is therefore important in animal communication, especially in complex, noisy environments in which many signals overlap.However, it is currently unknown how perception of multiple, disparate male signals plays a role in female mate choice decisions, especially for invertebrates.Males of the brushlegged wolf spider Schizocosa ocreata (Hentz) use multimodal communication (visual and vibratory signals) in courtship.Because female S. ocreata may be courted by multiple males at the same time, they must evaluate co-occurring male signals originating from separate locations.Moreover, due to environmental complexity, individual components of male signals may be occluded, altering detection of sensory modes by females.While experiments with live spiders and video playback have shown that female Schizocosa ocreata wolf spiders display receptivity to males courting in either isolated signal mode and show increased receptivity for multimodal courtship, it is unknown whether this is the case when females are presented with a choice between multimodal vs. isolated unimodal male courtship signals, and how these preferences are affected by disparity between signals.I first used digital multimodal playback to present females with a choice between 1) isolated unimodal (visuaI or vibratory), 2) multimodal vs. vibratory, and 3) multimodal vs. visual male courtship signals.I next used digital multimodal playback to investigate the effect of spatial and temporal disparity of visual and vibratory components of male courtship signals on female mate choice, and presented females with male courtship signals iii consisting of components that varied in spatial location or temporal synchrony.When presented with a choice between either isolated unimodal male courtship signal (visual or vibratory), there was no significant difference in the average number of receptive displays directed to either male signal.When presented with a choice between a multimodal male courtship signal and a vibratory male courtship signal, females directed, on average, significantly more receptive displays to the multimodal signal.However, when presented with a choice between multimodal and visual-only male courtship signals, there was no significant difference in receptivity directed by females to either signal, in contrast with the prediction generated from previous research.Females responded to spatially disparate signal components separated by ≥ 90° as though they were separate sources, but responded to slightly disparate signals separated by ≤ 45° as though they originated from a single source.Responses were seen as evidence for cross-modal integration.Temporal disparity (synchrony) in signal modes also affected female receptivity.Females responded more to male signals when visual and vibratory modes were in synchrony than either out-of-synch or interleaved/alternated.These findings are consistent with those seen in both humans and other vertebrates, and provide insight into how animals overcome communication challenges inherent in a complex environment.2012, 2013 (to ECK).More than that, this would never have happened had it not been for the support of several people, especially that of Dr. George W. Uetz.As my advisor, he showed me the beauty and wonder of spiders and invertebrates, a feat I once believed to be about as probable as federal marriage equality or having a black president.But the "impossible" can and does happen, and I will be forever, extraordinarily grateful for his unwavering support and guidance through this process.I would also like to thank Dr. Eric Maur and Dr. John Layne for serving on my committee and for providing valuable encouragement and feedback on
Author: Elizabeth C. Kozak
Institution: University of Cincinnati
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2520852622