02103nas a2200157   4500008004100000022001400041245009100055210006900146260001600215490000700231520158800238100001901826700002401845700002101869856005501890       2019                        eng d  a0340-544300aClarifying and expanding the social complexity hypothesis for communicative complexity0 aClarifying and expanding the social complexity hypothesis for co  cJan-01-20190 v733 a<p>Variation in communicative complexity has been conceptually and empirically attributed to social complexity, with animals living in more complex social environments exhibiting more signals and/or more complex signals than animals living in simpler social environments. As compelling as studies highlighting a link between social and communicative variables are, this hypothesis remains challenged by operational problems, contrasting results, and several weaknesses of the associated tests. Specifically, how to best operationalize social and communicative complexity remains debated; alternative hypotheses, such as the role of a species&rsquo; ecology, morphology, or phylogenetic history, have been neglected; and the actual ways in which variation in signaling is directly affected by social factors remain largely unexplored. In this review, we address these three issues and propose an extension of the &ldquo;social complexity hypothesis for communicative complexity&rdquo; that resolves and acknowledges the above factors. We specifically argue for integrating the inherently multimodal nature of communication into a more comprehensive framework and for acknowledging the social context of derived signals and the potential of audience effects. By doing so, we believe it will be possible to generate more accurate predictions about which specific social parameters may be responsible for selection on new or more complex signals, as well as to uncover potential adaptive functions that are not necessarily apparent from studying communication in only one modality.</p>
1 aPeckre, Louise1 aKappeler, Peter, M.1 aFichtel, Claudia  uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00265-018-2605-4