Wind-induced noise alters signaler and receiver behavior in vibrational communication
| 详细信息 | 推荐本文 | |
- 作者：Gabriel D. McNett ; Lucia H. Luan and Reginald B. Cocroft
- 关键词：Masking ; Interference ; Substrate vibration ; Animal communication ; Gap detection
- 刊名：Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
- 出版时间：December 2010
- 出版年：2010
- 期刊代码：25_0340-5443
- 类别：bio
- 卷：64
- 期：12
- 页码：2043-2051
- 数据来源：sp
摘要
Noise that masks communication signals can affect the evolution of signal form and decisions about when and where to communicate. For the many invertebrates that communicate using plant-borne vibrations, wind is considered to be the major source of environmental noise. However, the influence of wind-induced vibrations on signaling behavior has not been experimentally tested. We tested the hypothesis that wind-induced noise influences signaling behavior in a plant-feeding insect (the treehopper, Enchenopa binotata ‘Ptelea’) in which mating is preceded by a vibrational duet between females and mate-searching males. We first characterized the diel signaling patterns of males in the field to identify the wind conditions under which signaling typically takes place. We then experimentally tested two predictions of the hypothesis: (1) that males use gap detection to initiate signaling during relatively wind-free periods; and (2) that females respond less to signals given in the presence of wind-induced vibrations. Both predictions were met, indicating that wind-induced noise is an important influence on the behavior of insects that use plant-borne vibrations.