Concepedia

From Sender to Receiver: Propagation and Environmental Effects on Acoustic Signals

American Zoologist · 1994 · 350 citations · 37 references

TL;DR

Acoustic signals transmitted over large distances differ markedly from those emitted by the signaler, degrading in amplitude, spectral, and temporal structure as they propagate, and research seeks to understand the selective forces imposed by the environment on animal signals. The study aims to discuss the physical constraints the environment imposes on acoustic communication and to compare how anurans and insects adapt their signaling systems to these constraints. The authors analyze environmental constraints on acoustic communication and examine similarities in signaling by anurans and insects that reflect these constraints. They show that changes in signals during propagation affect signal perception during phonotaxis, influencing mate choice and sexual selection. SYNOPSIS.

Abstract

SYNOPSIS. Acoustic signals transmitted over large distances differ significantly from those emitted by the signaler. Acoustic signals degrade in amplitude, spectral and temporal structure as they propagate through theenvironment. A great deal of work on acoustic communication is aimed at understanding the selective forces imposed by the environment on animal signals. I will discuss the physical constraints the environment puts on acoustic communication, and then discuss similarities in communication by anurans and insects that relate these environmental constraints to their signaling systems. Lastly, I show how changes in signals during propagation relate to changes in signal perception during phonotaxis, and thus, how propagation relates to mate choice and sexual selection