Evidence of Insect Syntax: Bout Level Processing in the Communication System of Enchenopa binotataEvidence of Insect Syntax: Bout Level Processing in the Communication System of Enchenopa binotata
Mentor 1
Rafael L. Rodríguez
Location
Union 240
Start Date
5-4-2019 1:00 PM
Description
Evidence of Insect Syntax: Bout Level Processing in the Communication System of Enchenopa binotata
Christine Wiese, Camille Desjonquères & Rafael L. Rodríguez
Behavioral & Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
The arrangement of syllables and words is very important in human language and the communication systems of some mammals and birds. Recent research shows that Enchenopa binotata treehoppers, insects that communicate with plant-borne vibrational signals, have combinatorial signal processing analogous to human phonology (rules concerning the combinations of signal elements that are acceptable). If insects have some level of phonology then they may have syntax, whereby processing is at the scale of signal bouts rather than single signals. To test this we presented vibrational playbacks of male signals to females and recorded their responses. We designed three synthetic playback including the natural order, which has four signals of increasing amplitude, a reversed order, with four signals of decreasing amplitude and a staggered order, with the two highest amplitude signals first followed by the two lowest amplitude calls. Our results show that the order of the bouts significantly affects the female responses and the treatment only has marginal affects: females respond more to the staggered and normal bouts than to the reserved order. These effects display evidence of syntax in Enchenopa binotata, and suggest that complex forms of combinatorial processing may be more widespread among animals than currently appreciated.
Evidence of Insect Syntax: Bout Level Processing in the Communication System of Enchenopa binotataEvidence of Insect Syntax: Bout Level Processing in the Communication System of Enchenopa binotata
Union 240
Evidence of Insect Syntax: Bout Level Processing in the Communication System of Enchenopa binotata
Christine Wiese, Camille Desjonquères & Rafael L. Rodríguez
Behavioral & Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
The arrangement of syllables and words is very important in human language and the communication systems of some mammals and birds. Recent research shows that Enchenopa binotata treehoppers, insects that communicate with plant-borne vibrational signals, have combinatorial signal processing analogous to human phonology (rules concerning the combinations of signal elements that are acceptable). If insects have some level of phonology then they may have syntax, whereby processing is at the scale of signal bouts rather than single signals. To test this we presented vibrational playbacks of male signals to females and recorded their responses. We designed three synthetic playback including the natural order, which has four signals of increasing amplitude, a reversed order, with four signals of decreasing amplitude and a staggered order, with the two highest amplitude signals first followed by the two lowest amplitude calls. Our results show that the order of the bouts significantly affects the female responses and the treatment only has marginal affects: females respond more to the staggered and normal bouts than to the reserved order. These effects display evidence of syntax in Enchenopa binotata, and suggest that complex forms of combinatorial processing may be more widespread among animals than currently appreciated.
