Search results for "Signalling theory"

The "honest signalling theory" in gynecological endocrinology: teaching and research implications.

2004

Honesty of agonistic signalling and effects of size and motivation asymmetry in contests

1999

Game theoretical models predict that the main function of fighting behaviour is to assess the relative fighting ability of opponents. The sequential assessment game has often been used to investigate contests, while honest signalling theory has received much less attention. With the wolf spider Hygrolycosa rubrofasciata we investigated whether male agonistic signalling can reveal honest information about fighting ability, and how size and motivation asymmetries affect male fighting behaviour. We also determined whether male–male competition affects the courtship behaviour of the males. We found that agonistic drumming activity is an honest indicator of male fighting ability, and that relati…

Can warning signals be honest? : wing colouration and the strength of chemical defence in the female wood tiger moth (Parasemia plataginis)

2016

The warning displays of aposematic organisms signal to predators that they possess a secondary defence and are unprofitable. Within species variation exists in the strength of the signal and defence. As natural selection is expected to favour higher levels of defence, variation in such traits requires explanation. One hypothesis is that the strength of primary and secondary defences are correlated as they reflect the condition of the signaller. This study explores if variation in individual conspicuousness is an honest signal of the level of defence in the wood tiger moth (Parasemia plantaginis). P. plantaginis has conspicuous hind wing warning colouration, which in females varies from yell…