Know thine enemy: fighting fish gather information from observing conspecific interactions

摘要: Many of the signals that animals use to communicate transmit relatively large distances and therefore encompass several potential signallers receivers. This observation challenges common characterization animal communication systems as consisting one signaller receiver. Furthermore, it suggests evolution behaviour must be considered occurring in context networks rather than dyads. Although considerations selection pressures acting upon have rarely been expressed such terms, has noted many exchanged during aggressive interactions will far further required for information transfer between individuals directly involved, suggesting these designed received by other, more distant, individuals. Here we consider receivers gather information, aspect which termed eavesdropping. We show male Betta splendens monitor neighbouring conspecifics on relative fighting ability subsequent with males they observed.