Meeting Abstract
Complex multimodal signaling is prevalent in animal communication, but there remains very much to be explored regarding the function and evolution of such signaling systems. In this study I test the relative importance of different sensory modalities in determining courtship success in the jumping spider Habronattus formosus. Males of this species are notable for the presence of red third-leg ornaments, which are displayed during courtship dances, as well as for complex vibratory “songs” transmitted through the substrate as part of the courtship display. Male – female pairs were placed inside an enclosure in which both the lighting and vibratory environments were experimentally manipulated. Each pair was randomly assigned a substrate that either did or did not conduct vibratory “songs,” as well as either a full-spectrum lighting environment or one in which long-wavelength light was excluded. The effects of both manipulations, in isolation and in tandem, on courtship behaviors and probability of mating were measured. Results of this study, when compared with similar studies of related groups of jumping spiders, can provide insight into the evolution and function of multimodal signals.
