Evolutionary novelty in communication between the sexes.

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Animal communication
• Sexual selection

Background:

• The diversity of animal signalling traits is vast, raising questions about the evolution of novelty.
• Sexual selection is a key driver of diversification in animal communication systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the initial conditions that promote the maintenance or elimination of new sexual signals and receiver traits.
• To understand the mechanisms and ease of evolution for novel animal communication signals.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of factors influencing signal evolution.
• Examination of how mutations, plasticity, hybridization, and cultural innovation contribute to new traits.
• Consideration of environmental changes and their impact on signal evolution.

Main Results:

• Novel sender and receiver variants can arise through multiple mechanisms.
• The evolution of new sexual signals may be facilitated by their arbitrary nature, sexual conflict, and receiver perceptual abilities.
• Environmental changes, including those in the Anthropocene, can alter signalling dynamics and create opportunities to observe signal evolution.

Conclusions:

• It may be easier than previously assumed to evolve new sexual signals.
• Environmental disruption offers unique opportunities to study the evolution of animal communication beyond traditional phylogenetic methods.