狼蛛在不同基质上的多模态交流：行为可塑性的证据

Communication in complex environments poses challenges of potential loss of intended messages, but some animals may compensate by using multimodal signalling. Courtship displays of maleSchizocosa ocreata (Hentz) wolf spiders are multimodal, consisting of visual and seismic signals. The microhabitat of S. ocreata is complex, including leaf litter, wood/bark, soil and rocks. Results from laser vibrometer measurements in the present study indicated that leaf litter transmitted male courtship signals with greater efficacy. Mating success was significantly greater on leaf litter (similar to 85%) compared to other substrates (similar to 30%), even though latency to male courtship did not vary among substrates. Given these results, selection should favour spiders that increase their mating potential on nonconducting substrates. We tested whether spiders detect substrate differences in a choice test, and found that when males and females visited all substrates, they spent significantly more time on leaf litter. We isolated courting male spiders on each substrate and scored courtship behaviours to see whether signals varied with substrate. Males used significantly more visual signals (waves and arches) on substrates that attenuated seismic signals (soil and rocks), but other behaviours showed no differences. Taken together, these results suggest that combined visual/seismic components of multimodal displays may serve as 'backup signals', ensuring reception under different environmental conditions. Results also suggest that male S. ocreata have the flexibility to compensate for environmental constraints by seeking microhabitats with more effective vibration conduction properties, and/or by increasing visual signals on substrates where seismic communication is less effective. 

在复杂环境中的通信带来了可能丢失预期消息的挑战，但是某些动物可能会通过使用多模式信令来进行补偿。雄性裂狼蛛Schizocosa ocreata（Hentz）的求爱显示是多模式的，包括视觉和地震信号。S. ocreata的微生境很复杂，包括枯枝落叶，木材/树皮，土壤和岩石。在本研究中，激光振动计测量的结果表明，枯枝落叶传递的雄性求爱信号具有更高的功效。与其他基质（约30％）相比，叶子凋落物（约85％）的交配成功率要高得多，即使雄性求偶的潜伏期在不同基质之间也没有变化。鉴于这些结果，选择应该有利于蜘蛛提高它们在非传导基底上的交配潜力。我们在选择测试中测试了蜘蛛是否检测到底物差异，并发现当雄性和雌性访问所有基底时，它们在叶子上花费的时间明显更多。我们单独进行了每个求偶雄性蜘蛛在每种基质上的求偶实验，并对雄蛛求偶行为进行了评分，以查看信号是否随基质而变化。雄性在可减弱地震信号（土壤和岩石）的基底上使用明显更多的视觉信号（波浪和拱门，这里说的应该是雄蛛的求偶动作，步足触肢上上下下的动作），但其他行为没有差异。综上所述，这些结果表明，雄蛛采取的多模式展示的组合视觉和震动信号可以充当“备份信号”，从而确保在不同环境条件下（对雌性信号）的接收。结果还表明，通过寻找具有更有效的振动传导特性的微栖息地，和/或通过增加在震动通信效果较差的基质上的视觉信号，雄性S. ocreata可以灵活地补偿环境限制。 

文献来源

Gordon, S.D., Uetz, G.W., 2011. Multimodal communication of wolf spiders on different substrates: evidence for behavioural plasticity. Animal Behaviour 81, 367-375.