Research Interests

My research focuses on understanding the evolution and diversification of animal communication systems. Specifically, I am interested in how the combination of receiver sensory systems and signaling environment influence ultimate signal form. My current research focuses on the evolution and function of complex signaling using various arachnid groups as model systems. Research projects in my laboratory are very integrative and incorporate analyses and techniques across multiple analytical levels. Students and post doctoral fellows in my laboratory are incorporating molecular techniques, neurophysiology, comparative approaches, manipulative laboratory behavioral experiments, endocrine assays, and field-based experiments and observations to ask various questions about signal evolution and diversification, plasticity in female reproductive behavior, sex-specific ontogenetic color change, sexual cannibalism and male sacrifice behavior, and the neural basis of behavior.

Current Projects

In addition to the multiple diverse projects on which my graduate students and post doctoral fellows work, I have four main research programs currently active (see below). For information about each of these areas of research, please see my personal lab webpage.

1 - The evolution of complex signaling

2 - Sexual selection and speciation

3 - Variation in female preferences

4 - Sensory biology of amblypygids

Recent Publications

 

Hebets, E.A. In press. Early experience does not influence heterospecific recognition in the wolf spider Schizocosa uetzi. Journal of Arachnology.

Framenau, V. W., E. A. Hebets. In press. A review of leg ornamentation in male wolf spiders, with the description of a new species from Australia, Artoria schizocoides (Araneae, Lycosidae). Journal of Arachnology.

Elias, D.O., Hebets, E. A., Hoy, R. R., Maddison, W. P., and Mason, A. C. 2006.  Regional song differences in sky-island populations of the jumping spider Habronattus pugillis Griswold. Journal of Arachnology 34:566-577.

Spence, A. J. & E. A. Hebets. 2006. Anatomy and physiology of giant fibers in the antenniform leg of the amblypygid Phrynus marginemaculatus. Journal of Arachnology 34:545-556.

Hebets, E.A., Cuasay, K., and Rivlin, P.K. 2006. The role of visual ornamentation in female choice of a multimodal male courtship display. Ethology 112L 1062 – 1070.

Elias, D. O., Hebets, E. A., and Hoy, R. R. 2006. Female preference for signal complexity. Behavioral Ecology. 17: 765-771.

Elias, D.O., Lee, N., Hebets, E. A., and Mason, A. C. 2006. Seismic signal production in wolf spiders: Parallel versus serial multicomponent signals. Journal of Experimental Biology 209: 1079-1084. (cover photo)

Fowler-Finn, K. D. & E. A. Hebets.  2006. An examination of agonistic interactions in the whip spider Phyrnus marginemaculatus (Arachnida, Amblypyi) Journal of Arachnology 34: 62-76.

Hebets, E. A. 2005. Attention-altering interactions among signals in multimodal wolf spider courtship displays. Behavioral Ecology 16: 75-82.

Hebets, E. A. and D. R. Papaj. 2005. Complex signal function: Developing a framework of testable hypotheses. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 57: 197-214.

Elias, D. O., E. A. Hebets, A. C. Mason, and R. R. Hoy. 2005. Seismic signals are crucial for male mating success in a visual specialist jumping spider (Araneae: Salticidae). Animal Behaviour 69: 931-938.

Hebets, E.A. & W.P. Maddison. 2005. Xenophilic mating preferences among populations of the jumping spider Habronattus pugillis Griswold. Behavioral Ecology 16: 981-988.

Hebets, E. A. 2003.  Subadult experience influences adult mate choice in an arthropod: Exposed female wolf spiders prefer males of a familiar phenotype. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 100: 13390-13395.

Hebets, E. A. 2002. Relating the unique sensory system of amblypygids to the ecology and behavior of Phrynus parvulus from Costa Rica (Arachnida, Amblypygi). Canadian Journal of Zoology 80: 286-295.

Foelix, R. F. and E. A. Hebets. 2001.  Sensory biology of whip spiders (Arachnida, Amblypygi). Andrias 15: 129-140.

Hebets, E. A. & R.F. Chapman.  2000. Surviving the flood:  Plastron respiration in the non-tracheate arthropod Phrynus marginemaculatus (Amblypygi; Arachnida).  Journal of Insect Physiology 46: 13-19.

Hebets, E. A. and G. W. Uetz.  2000.  Leg ornamentation and the efficacy of courtship display in four species of wolf spider (Araneae: Lycosidae). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 47 (4): 280-286.

Hebets, E. A. and R.F. Chapman. 2000.  An electrophysiological study of olfaction in the whip spider Phrynus parvulus (Arachnida, Amblypygi).  Journal of Insect Physiology 46(11): 1441-1448.