Multiple Sensory Modalities in Diurnal Geckos Is Associated with the Signaling Environment and Evolutionary Constraints.

ABSTRACT: To be effective, animal signals need to be detectable in the environment, but their development and expression require resources. For multimodal communication, investment in elaborating traits in one modality could reduce the elaboration of traits in other modalities. In Cnemaspis geckos, chemical signals for conspecific communication pre-dated the evolution of visual signals, allowing us to examine the potential trade-off in signal elaboration and the current habitat associations with signal use. We studied five species of Cnemaspis and quantified visual (patch size, color characteristics) and chemical (secretory composition) traits in males, as well as key environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, light) in each of their habitats. Within species, we found some trade-

SUBMITTER: Kabir MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7891680 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature