creators_name: Enquist, Magnus
creators_name: Ghirlanda, Stefano
creators_name: Hurd, Pete L.
type: journalp
datestamp: 2006-12-08
lastmod: 2011-03-11 08:56:43
metadata_visibility: show
title: Discrete conventional signalling of a continuous variable
ispublished: pub
subjects: phil-dec-theory
subjects: bio-etho
subjects: bio-ani-cog
subjects: bio-evo
subjects: ling-compara
subjects: bio-theory
subjects: bio-ani-behav
full_text_status: public
keywords: game theory, communication, animal behaviour
abstract: In aggressive interactions, animals often use a discrete set of signals,
while the properties being signalled are likely to be continuous, for example
fighting ability or value of victory. Here we investigate a particular model
of fighting which allows for conventional signalling of subjective resource
value to occur. The result shows that neither perfect nor no signalling are
evolutionarily stable strategies (ESSs) in the model. Instead, we find ESSs in
which partial information is communicated, with discrete displays signalling
a range of values rather than a precise one. The result also indicates that
communication should be more precise in conflicts over small resources.
Signalling strategies can exist in fighting because of the common interest
in avoiding injuries, but communication is likely to be limited because of
the fundamental conflict over the resource. Our results reflect a compromise
between these two factors. Data allowing for a thorough test of the model are lacking; however, existing data seem consistent with the obtained theoretical results.
date: 1998
date_type: published
publication: Animal Behaviour
volume: 56
pagerange: 749-754
refereed: TRUE
citation:   Enquist, Magnus and Ghirlanda, Stefano and Hurd, Pete L.  (1998) Discrete conventional signalling of a continuous variable.  [Journal (Paginated)]     
document_url: http://cogprints.org/5278/1/enquist_ghirlanda_hurd1998.pdf