Abstract
Eavesdropping, the interception of signals by unintended receivers, is an important component of the ecology and evolution of communication systems. Plants and microbes have complex communication systems with important consequences for agriculture, human health and ecosystem functioning. Eavesdropping, however, has mostly been studied in animal systems. In this review, we argue that eavesdropping is an important force shaping the ecology and evolution of communication in these non-animal systems. To date, studying eavesdropping in plants and microbes has been limited by the fact that signaler “intention” is often unclear: distinguishing signals that evolved to convey information from unintended cues is particularly difficult in plants and microbes, and the fitness consequences of signalling are rarely measured. We describe some of the main examples of eavesdropping in plant and microbial communication and point out other murkier cases were the molecular and physiological basis of communication are well understood, but the evolutionary implications have not been addressed. We argue that these systems provide experimental tractability to test some of the predicted ecological and evolutionary consequences of eavesdropping, and that, the particularities of these systems can lead to an increased understanding of eavesdropping, and its importance in biological communication.
Highlights
The bright colors and conspicuous vocalizations of animal signals are most apparent to human observers, communication is fundamental to plant, fungal, and even microbial biology
The term “eavesdropping” evokes auditory communication, but eavesdroppers can exploit any sensory modality through which signals are conveyed
We will highlight how principles and predictions from the animal eavesdropping literature can help us distinguish between signals and cues in plants and microbes
Summary
The bright colors and conspicuous vocalizations of animal signals are most apparent to human observers, communication is fundamental to plant, fungal, and even microbial biology. Plants and microbes differ from animals in the main sensory modalities they use to transmit and receive information, all signals are unified by a common theme: they evolved to convey information to an intended receiver, and are associated with a fitness benefit for the signaler (Laidre and Johnstone, 2013). We begin by reviewing evidence for eavesdropping in non-animal systems, primarily focusing on plants and microbes. In contrast to the animal visual and auditory signals that we understand fairly well, the chemical signals that plants and microbes use to communicate with each other can be tricky to decode due to their high dimensionality (Raguso, 2008). We will highlight how principles and predictions from the animal eavesdropping literature can help us distinguish between signals and cues in plants and microbes
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