Sensory ecology, receiver biases and sexual selection

Abstract

During courtship, signals are sent between the sexes, and received signals contain information that forms the basis of decision making. Much is known about signal content, but less is known about signal design-what makes signals work efficiently? A consideration of design not only gives new insights into the evolution of signals (including novelty), but also allows the development of specific and testable predictions about the direction of evolution. Recently there has been increased interest in signal design, but this has resulted in some apparently divergent views in the literature.