Signalling theory

Within evolutionary biology, signalling theory refers to the scientific theory around how organisms signal their condition to others. The central concept is that of honest signalling — that organisms should honestly signal their good condition to others rather than spending their energy elsewhere i.e. it is the evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) and the population is not susceptible to invasion by cheats who signal less than their optimum. The handicap theory is one influential idea — proposed by Amotz Zahavi — that honest signals are maintained at an ESS by being wastefully costly. Others, such as John Maynard Smith, believe that signals can be both honest and cost-free.

Contents

1 Examples 2 See also 3 References 4 External links

Examples

• Sam Brown and W.D. Hamilton proposed the idea that autumnal leaf colouration was trees signalling to aphids and other pests. Autumn colour is costly to trees, aphids appear to preferentially avoid trees with bright leaves and tree species with bright leaves have more specialist aphid pests than do trees lacking bright leaves.

See also

Animal communication, Cheap talk

References

• Maynard Smith, J and Harper, D. 2004: Animal Signals
• Zahavi, A. 1975: Mate selection — a selection for a handicap. Journal of theoretical Biology. 53, 205-214
• Zahavi, A. 1977: The cost of honesty (Further remarks on the handicap principle). Journal of theoretical Biology. 67, 603-605

External links

• An Introduction to the Theory of Honest Signalling
• http://www.animalbehavioronline.com/deceit.html

See also: Signalling theory, Amotz Zahavi, Animal communication, Aphid, Autumn, Cheap talk, Evolutionarily stable strategy, Evolutionary biology, Handicap theory