Elias Damian O, Kasumovic Michael M, Punzalan David, Andrade Maydianne C B, Mason Andrew C
Integrative Behaviour and Neuroscience Group, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada.
Anim Behav. 2008 Sep;76(3):901-910. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.01.032.
Assessment strategies are an important component in game theoretical models of contests. Strategies can be either based on one's own abilities (self assessment) or on the relative abilities of two opponents (mutual assessment). Using statistical methodology that allows discrimination between assessment types, we examined contests in the jumping spider Phiddipus clarus. In this species, aggressive interactions can be divided into 'pre-contact' and 'contact' phases. Pre-contact phases consist of bouts of visual and vibratory signaling. Contact phases follow where males physically contact each other (leg fencing). Both weight and vibratory signaling differences predicted winners with heavier and more actively signaling males winning more contests. Vibratory behaviour predicted pre-contact phase duration, with higher signaling rates and larger differences between contestants leading to longer pre-contact interaction times. Contact phase duration was predicted most strongly by the weight of losing males relative to that of winning males, suggesting that P. clarus males use self-assessment in determining contest duration. While a self-assessment strategy was supported, our data suggest a secondary role for mutual assessment ("partial mutual assessment"). After initial contest bouts, male competitors changed their behaviour. Pre-contact and contact phase durations were reduced while vibratory signaling behaviour in winners was unchanged. In addition, only vibratory signaling differences predicted winners in subsequent bouts suggesting a role of experience in determining contest outcomes. We suggest that the rules and assessment strategies males use can change depending on experience and that assessment strategies are likely a continuum between self- and mutual assessment.
评估策略是竞争博弈理论模型的一个重要组成部分。策略可以基于自身能力（自我评估），也可以基于两个对手的相对能力（相互评估）。我们使用能够区分评估类型的统计方法，研究了明氏猫跳蛛的竞争情况。在这个物种中，攻击性互动可分为“接触前”和“接触”阶段。接触前阶段包括视觉和振动信号的较量。随后进入接触阶段，雄性个体相互进行身体接触（腿部交锋）。体重和振动信号差异都能预测出获胜者，体重较重且信号传递更积极的雄性个体赢得更多竞争。振动行为能预测接触前阶段的持续时间，信号传递速率越高以及竞争者之间的差异越大，接触前的互动时间就越长。接触阶段的持续时间最强烈地由失败雄性相对于获胜雄性的体重预测，这表明明氏猫跳蛛雄性在确定竞争持续时间时使用自我评估。虽然自我评估策略得到了支持，但我们的数据表明相互评估也起到了次要作用（“部分相互评估”）。在最初的竞争较量之后，雄性竞争者改变了它们的行为。接触前和接触阶段的持续时间缩短，而获胜者的振动信号行为没有变化。此外，只有振动信号差异能预测后续较量中的获胜者，这表明经验在决定竞争结果中起到了作用。我们认为雄性个体使用的规则和评估策略可能会根据经验而改变，并且评估策略可能是一个介于自我评估和相互评估之间的连续体。
