Validating the use of computer animations in male Etheostoma zonale: a comparison of individual response to live and artificial stimuli

Roberts, Natalie S.; McCaulley, Caitlyn; Mendelson, Tamra C.

doi:10.1093/cz/zoz020

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…To test the effect of female body pattern elements on male mate preference, we created 3D animations to be presented to males in behavioral assays, following methods in Roberts et al (2019) . 3D digital models of E. zonale and E. barrenense were purchased from Turbosquid (product ID female E. zonale : 928023; female E. barrenense : 957636) and imported into the animation software program Autodesk Maya (Autodesk Inc, San Rafael, CA, USA).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After applying a path and skin to 3D models, animations were exported as a video file to be used in behavioral assays. Etheostoma zonale responds to video and computer animations in a comparable manner to live stimuli ( Roberts et al 2017 , 2019 ) and therefore was used as the focal species for behavioral assays.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Experimental setup for the behavioral assays followed methods in Roberts et al (2019) , with a 37.9-L central test tank (50 L × 25 W × 30 H cm) flanked on either short side by two computer monitors with two 10-cm “association zones” marked on each side of the tank closest to the computer monitors. Male E. zonale were placed in the test tank while the monitors displayed a gray screen for 10 min to allow for acclimation to the testing environment.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Identifying female phenotypes that promote behavioral isolation in a sexually dimorphic species of fishEtheostoma zonale

Roberts

Mendelson

2020

Current Zoology

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In sexually dimorphic species characterized by exaggerated male ornamentation, behavioral isolation is often attributed to female preferences for conspecific male signals. Yet, in a number of sexually dimorphic species, male mate choice also results in behavioral isolation. In many of these cases, the female traits that mediate species boundaries are unclear. Females in sexually dimorphic species typically lack many of the elaborate traits that are present in males and that are often used for taxonomic classification of species. In a diverse and largely sexually dimorphic group of fishes called darters (Percidae: Etheostoma), male mate choice contributes to behavioral isolation between a number of species; however, studies addressing which female traits males prefer are lacking. In the current study, we identified the dominant female pattern for two sympatric species, Etheostoma zonale and E. barrenense, using pattern energy analysis, and we used discriminate function analysis to identify which aspects of female patterning can reliably classify species. We then tested the role of female features in male mate choice for E. zonale, by measuring male preference for computer animations displaying the identified (species-specific) conspecific features. We found that the region above the lateral line is important in mediating male mate preferences, with males spending a significantly greater proportion of time with animations exhibiting conspecific female patterning in this region than with animations exhibiting heterospecific female patterning. Our results suggest that the aspects of female phenotypes that are the target of male mate choice are different from the conspicuous male phenotypes that traditionally characterize species.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Identifying female phenotypes that promote behavioral isolation in a sexually dimorphic species of fishEtheostoma zonale

Roberts

Mendelson

2020

Current Zoology

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“…One was used to test 222 baseline preference for conspecific animations; four different skin types were used to test the 223 effect of focal region features on male mate choice; and, two were created as controls (details 224 below). Skins were designed with E. zonale as the intended focal species, since previous studies 225 have shown that this species responds to video and computer animations in a comparable manner 226 to live stimuli (Roberts et al, , 2019. To create conspecific skins, we randomly selected 227 RAW photographs of female E. zonale from the Line Creek and Middle Fork Red River sites in 228…”

Section: Discriminant Function Analysis Of Female Focal Regions 168mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Experimental setup for the behavioral trials followed those used in Roberts et al (2019), 295 with a central test tank flanked on either short side by two computer monitors with two 10-cm 296 "association zones" marked on each side of the tank closest to the computer monitors. Male E. 297 zonale were placed in the test tank while the monitors displayed a grey screen for ten minutes to 298 allow for acclimation to the testing environment.…”

Section: Behavioral Assays 294mentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying female phenotypes that promote behavioral isolation in a sexually dimorphic species of fish (Etheostoma zonale)

Roberts

Mendelson

2020

Preprint

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20In sexually dimorphic species characterized by exaggerated male ornamentation, behavioral 21 isolation is often attributed to female preferences for conspecific male signals. Yet, in a number 22 of sexually dimorphic species, male mate choice also results in behavioral isolation. In many of 23 these cases, the female traits that mediate species boundaries are unclear. Females in sexually 24 dimorphic species typically lack many of the elaborate traits that are present in males and that are 25 often diagnostic of species. In a diverse and largely sexually dimorphic group of fishes called 26 darters (Percidae: Etheostoma), male mate choice contributes to behavioral isolation between a 27 number of species; however, it is not clear which female traits males prefer. In the current study, 28we identified the dominant female pattern for two sympatric species, Etheostoma zonale and E. 29 barrenense, using pattern energy analysis, and we used discriminate function analysis to identify 30 which aspects of female patterning can reliably classify species. We then tested the role of 31 female features in male mate choice for E. zonale, by measuring male preference for computer 32 animations displaying the identified (species-specific) conspecific features as well as the 33 dominant male pattern that is preferred by females. We found that the region above the lateral 34 line is important in mediating male mate preferences, with males spending significantly more 35 time with animations exhibiting conspecific female patterning in this region than with animations 36 exhibiting heterospecific female patterning. Our results suggest that the aspects of female 37 phenotypes that are the target of male mate choice are different from the male phenotypes that 38 characterize species. This research highlights the importance of using objective measures in the 39 study of behavioral isolation via male mate choice. 40

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Signal Competition in Dynamic Visual Environments: Relative Conspicuousness of Social Displays in the Jacky Dragon (Amphibolurus muricatus)

Woo¹

2021

AB&C

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Selection for conspicuousness has been an important force on visual signal design. Although signal efficacy has been extensively studied in acoustic systems, few studies have examined this attribute in dynamic visual signals. Here, I simulated signal competition between Jacky lizards (Amphibolurus muricatus) by presenting the motor patterns (tail-flick, push-up body rock, and slow arm wave) in isolation that are typically used in social communication. Phase 1 used four digital video playback systems to present simultaneous animated display combinations on opposing monitors to a subject that was situated in the middle, and measured orientation towards the monitors and latency to respond. Phase 2 maintained the same set-up and simultaneous display combinations, but tested signal conspicuousness across three levels of visual noise (calm, typical, and windy) simulated by the movement of windblown vegetation in the background. The results suggest that the most conspicuous visual display is the tail-flick, followed by the push-up body rock, and the slow arm wave is the least conspicuous. Moreover, this relationship is robust across the full range of environmental wind conditions. No significant side biases in orientation to displays were detected, which suggested no lateralization in perceptual processes. Jacky lizard display motor patterns which address distinct functional requirements: the tail flick is an ideal alerting component, with high efficacy over a range of signaling conditions. The push-up body rock, which is used only in aggressive displays, has a more restricted range, and the submissive slow arm wave is likely designed to appease nearby dominant males.

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Validating the use of computer animations in male Etheostoma zonale: a comparison of individual response to live and artificial stimuli

Cited by 5 publications

References 9 publications

Identifying female phenotypes that promote behavioral isolation in a sexually dimorphic species of fishEtheostoma zonale

Identifying female phenotypes that promote behavioral isolation in a sexually dimorphic species of fishEtheostoma zonale

Identifying female phenotypes that promote behavioral isolation in a sexually dimorphic species of fish (Etheostoma zonale)

Signal Competition in Dynamic Visual Environments: Relative Conspicuousness of Social Displays in the Jacky Dragon (Amphibolurus muricatus)

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