How signals interact in multimodal displays: Insights from a robotic frog

In Focus: Caldart, M. V., M. B. dos Santos & G. Machado (2021). Function of a multimodal signal: a multiple hypothesis test using a robot frog Journal of Animal Ecology, . Animals can communicate using signals perceived by different sensory systems, and many combine multiple sensory modalities in their display repertoires. Why these multimodal displays evolve and how they function to transmit information between individuals are crucial questions in behavioural and evolutionary research. Most empirical studies addressing these questions assume, even if implicitly, that signals of different modalities have independent effects on receiver responses. Nonetheless, the potential for interactions between signals as an explanation for the function of multimodal displays has been recognized for over two decades. Caldart et al. (2021) use a robotic frog and a receiver-based approach to test four alternative hypotheses for the function of multimodal (acoustic + visual) displays in the stream-dwelling frog Crossodactylus schmidti. Their results lend support to an inter-signal interaction mechanism, whereby inclusion of visual signals modifies the context in which an acoustic display is interpreted. In contrast, the results in Caldart et al. (2021) are less consistent with the hypotheses that emphasize the quality-related information encoded in different signal modalities and a hypothesis that focuses on signal transmission across heterogeneous environments. These results showcase how experimental manipulation of different signal modalities and tests of multiple alternative hypotheses are key to clarifying the function of multimodal displays.

Automated summary

This study investigated the function of multimodal displays in stream-dwelling frogs using a robotic frog. The results support the hypothesis of inter-signal interaction, showing that the inclusion of visual signals modifies the interpretation of acoustic displays.