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Sexual selection: signals to die for
Fleur E Champion de Crespigny1, David J Hosken
1Centre for Ecology and Conservation, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn TR10 9EZ, UK.
Current Biology : CB
|October 11, 2007
Summary
Firefly sexual signals are not costly to produce, but predators make signaling an expensive activity. This finding challenges the traditional view that costly signals ensure honesty in sexual communication.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Animal communication
- Behavioral ecology
Background:
- Sexual signals are often assumed to be energetically costly.
- This energetic cost is thought to maintain signal honesty.
- The costliness of signals is a key factor in sexual selection theory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the energetic cost of sexual signal production in fireflies.
- To determine the overall cost of signaling, including indirect costs.
- To re-evaluate the honesty of sexual signals in the context of predation.
Main Methods:
- Studied firefly species to measure energy expenditure during signal production.
- Assessed the impact of eavesdropping predators on signaling behavior.
- Analyzed the trade-offs between signal production costs and predation risks.
Main Results:
- Firefly signal production was found to be energetically inexpensive.
- The overall cost of signaling is significantly increased by predation risk.
- Predation pressure imposes a substantial energetic burden on signaling fireflies.
Conclusions:
- The energetic cost of signal production does not solely guarantee signal honesty.
- Predator-mediated costs are a critical factor in the evolution of sexual signals.
- Sexual signaling costs can arise from factors beyond direct production expenses, such as predation.
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