Publication
Title
Evolution of animal chemical communication : insights from non-model species and phylogenetic comparative methods
Author
Abstract
Chemical communication is probably the oldest, most ubiquitous form of information exchange in the natural world, spanning all three domains of life. While excellent sociobiological and behavioral ecological research has been conducted on the form and function of chemical signals in animals, we still know remarkably little on their evolution. Besides, much of our understanding of chemical signal diversity is restricted to insects, since studies on chemical communication in vertebrates are relatively scarce. In this review, I introduce the key concepts of animal communication and expand on the past, present, and future of research in chemical communication. When doing so, I highlight the current gaps in our knowledge on the evolution of the chemical communication system in animals, whilst emphasizing the heavy research bias towards lepidopterans. Here, I detail the benefits of using phylogenetic comparative methods to identify the motors and brakes that guide the evolution of chemical signals and chemical sensory systems. Moreover, I point out that focusing on non-model species in chemical ecology, specifically lizards, can provide valuable insights into how vertebrate chemical signals evolve, and how biological systems responsible for sending and receiving signals co-evolve with signal design. Lastly, I present a case study on lacertid lizards, demonstrating the possibilities of the phylogenetic comparative approach and the use of non-model species to study the evolution of animal chemical communication systems.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Belgian journal of zoology / Koninklijke Belgische Vereniging voor Dierkunde; Société royale zoologique de Belgique. - Gent, 1990, currens
Publication
Gent : Koninklijke Belgische Vereniging voor Dierkunde , 2019
ISSN
0777-6276 [print]
2295-0451 [online]
DOI
10.26496/BJZ.2019.31
Volume/pages
149 :1 (2019) , p. 63-93
ISI
000510859200001
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 08.07.2019
Last edited 09.12.2021
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