Presentation Details
| Sensory drive selects for increased salience of courtship color and motion in Habronattus spiders Nathan I Morehouse1, David Morris1, Abhinav Madabhushi1, Sebastian Echeverri2, David Outomuro2, Imogen Watts1, Daniel Zurek1, Wayne Maddison3. 1University of Cincinnati, Cincinnnati, OH, USA.2University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.3University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada |
Abstract
Sensory drive theory posits that sensory systems and associated signaling traits should co-evolve under selection for increased efficacy, such that evolutionary trajectories reflect adaptation to divergent signaling environments. Evidence for this process is well established in aquatic systems, but results from terrestrial taxa remain mixed. Using Habronattus jumping spiders, we tested the sensory-drive-based prediction that male courtship elements have evolved to be most salient in their own environments by 1) comparing color contrasts of focal species in their home environments to those across environments of all other species in our study, and 2) comparing parameters of courtship movements to motion characteristics of backgrounds in native habitats. For color ornaments, we find a consistent pattern of higher salience in home environments compared to heterospecific microhabitats. For courtship movement, we reveal a strong signature of habitat motion suggesting a history of selection for increased motion salience. Taken together, our work reveals a key role for sensory drive in the evolution of courtship elements in this terrestrial animal group.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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