Cargando…

Visual “playback” of colorful signals in the field supports sensory drive for signal detectability

Colorful visual signals are important systems for investigating the effects of signaling environments and receiver physiology on signal evolution as predicted by the sensory drive hypothesis. Support for the sensory drive hypothesis on color signal evolution is mostly based on documenting correlatio...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Gunderson, Alex R, Fleishman, Leo J, Leal, Manuel
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Oxford University Press 2018
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6084605/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30108630
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoy046
_version_ 1783346201749356544
author Gunderson, Alex R
Fleishman, Leo J
Leal, Manuel
author_facet Gunderson, Alex R
Fleishman, Leo J
Leal, Manuel
author_sort Gunderson, Alex R
collection PubMed
description Colorful visual signals are important systems for investigating the effects of signaling environments and receiver physiology on signal evolution as predicted by the sensory drive hypothesis. Support for the sensory drive hypothesis on color signal evolution is mostly based on documenting correlations between the properties of signals and habitat conditions under which the signals are given (i.e., a correlational approach) and less commonly on the use of mathematical models that integrate representations of visual environments, signal properties, and sensory systems (i.e., a functional approach). Here, we used an experimental approach in the field to evaluate signal efficacy of colorful lizard throat fans called dewlaps that show geographic variation in the lizard Anolis cristatellus. We used a remote controlled apparatus to display “fake dewlaps” to wild lizards to test for adaptive divergence in dewlap brightness (i.e., perceived intensity) among populations in situ. We found evidence of local adaptation in dewlap brightness consistent with the sensory drive hypothesis. Specifically, dewlaps that had the brightness characteristics of local lizards were more likely to be detected than those with the brightness characteristics of non-local lizards. Our findings indicate that simplified mathematical representations of visual environments may allow robust estimates of relative detectability or conspicuousness in natural habitats. We have shown the feasibility of evaluating color signal efficacy experimentally under natural conditions and demonstrate the potential advantages of presenting isolated components of signals to an intended receiver to measure their contribution to signal function.
format Online
Article
Text
id pubmed-6084605
institution National Center for Biotechnology Information
language English
publishDate 2018
publisher Oxford University Press
record_format MEDLINE/PubMed
spelling pubmed-60846052018-08-14 Visual “playback” of colorful signals in the field supports sensory drive for signal detectability Gunderson, Alex R Fleishman, Leo J Leal, Manuel Curr Zool Special Column: Sensory Drive Colorful visual signals are important systems for investigating the effects of signaling environments and receiver physiology on signal evolution as predicted by the sensory drive hypothesis. Support for the sensory drive hypothesis on color signal evolution is mostly based on documenting correlations between the properties of signals and habitat conditions under which the signals are given (i.e., a correlational approach) and less commonly on the use of mathematical models that integrate representations of visual environments, signal properties, and sensory systems (i.e., a functional approach). Here, we used an experimental approach in the field to evaluate signal efficacy of colorful lizard throat fans called dewlaps that show geographic variation in the lizard Anolis cristatellus. We used a remote controlled apparatus to display “fake dewlaps” to wild lizards to test for adaptive divergence in dewlap brightness (i.e., perceived intensity) among populations in situ. We found evidence of local adaptation in dewlap brightness consistent with the sensory drive hypothesis. Specifically, dewlaps that had the brightness characteristics of local lizards were more likely to be detected than those with the brightness characteristics of non-local lizards. Our findings indicate that simplified mathematical representations of visual environments may allow robust estimates of relative detectability or conspicuousness in natural habitats. We have shown the feasibility of evaluating color signal efficacy experimentally under natural conditions and demonstrate the potential advantages of presenting isolated components of signals to an intended receiver to measure their contribution to signal function. Oxford University Press 2018-08 2018-06-09 /pmc/articles/PMC6084605/ /pubmed/30108630 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoy046 Text en © The Author(s) (2018). Published by Oxford University Press. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions@oup.com
spellingShingle Special Column: Sensory Drive
Gunderson, Alex R
Fleishman, Leo J
Leal, Manuel
Visual “playback” of colorful signals in the field supports sensory drive for signal detectability
title Visual “playback” of colorful signals in the field supports sensory drive for signal detectability
title_full Visual “playback” of colorful signals in the field supports sensory drive for signal detectability
title_fullStr Visual “playback” of colorful signals in the field supports sensory drive for signal detectability
title_full_unstemmed Visual “playback” of colorful signals in the field supports sensory drive for signal detectability
title_short Visual “playback” of colorful signals in the field supports sensory drive for signal detectability
title_sort visual “playback” of colorful signals in the field supports sensory drive for signal detectability
topic Special Column: Sensory Drive
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6084605/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30108630
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoy046
work_keys_str_mv AT gundersonalexr visualplaybackofcolorfulsignalsinthefieldsupportssensorydriveforsignaldetectability
AT fleishmanleoj visualplaybackofcolorfulsignalsinthefieldsupportssensorydriveforsignaldetectability
AT lealmanuel visualplaybackofcolorfulsignalsinthefieldsupportssensorydriveforsignaldetectability
AT visualplaybackofcolorfulsignalsinthefieldsupportssensorydriveforsignaldetectability