---
abstract: |-
  In aggressive interactions, animals often use a discrete set of signals,
  while the properties being signalled are likely to be continuous, for example
  fighting ability or value of victory. Here we investigate a particular model
  of fighting which allows for conventional signalling of subjective resource
  value to occur. The result shows that neither perfect nor no signalling are
  evolutionarily stable strategies (ESSs) in the model. Instead, we find ESSs in
  which partial information is communicated, with discrete displays signalling
  a range of values rather than a precise one. The result also indicates that
  communication should be more precise in conflicts over small resources.
  Signalling strategies can exist in fighting because of the common interest
  in avoiding injuries, but communication is likely to be limited because of
  the fundamental conflict over the resource. Our results reflect a compromise
  between these two factors. Data allowing for a thorough test of the model are lacking; however, existing data seem consistent with the obtained theoretical results.
altloc: []
chapter: ~
commentary: ~
commref: ~
confdates: ~
conference: ~
confloc: ~
contact_email: ~
creators_id: []
creators_name:
  - family: Enquist
    given: Magnus
    honourific: ''
    lineage: ''
  - family: Ghirlanda
    given: Stefano
    honourific: ''
    lineage: ''
  - family: Hurd
    given: Pete L.
    honourific: ''
    lineage: ''
date: 1998
date_type: published
datestamp: 2006-12-08
department: ~
dir: disk0/00/00/52/78
edit_lock_since: ~
edit_lock_until: ~
edit_lock_user: ~
editors_id: []
editors_name: []
eprint_status: archive
eprintid: 5278
fileinfo: /style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png;/5278/1/enquist_ghirlanda_hurd1998.pdf
full_text_status: public
importid: ~
institution: ~
isbn: ~
ispublished: pub
issn: ~
item_issues_comment: []
item_issues_count: 0
item_issues_description: []
item_issues_id: []
item_issues_reported_by: []
item_issues_resolved_by: []
item_issues_status: []
item_issues_timestamp: []
item_issues_type: []
keywords: 'game theory, communication, animal behaviour'
lastmod: 2011-03-11 08:56:43
latitude: ~
longitude: ~
metadata_visibility: show
note: ~
number: ~
pagerange: 749-754
pubdom: FALSE
publication: Animal Behaviour
publisher: ~
refereed: TRUE
referencetext: ~
relation_type: []
relation_uri: []
reportno: ~
rev_number: 12
series: ~
source: ~
status_changed: 2007-09-12 17:08:39
subjects:
  - phil-dec-theory
  - bio-etho
  - bio-ani-cog
  - bio-evo
  - ling-compara
  - bio-theory
  - bio-ani-behav
succeeds: ~
suggestions: ~
sword_depositor: ~
sword_slug: ~
thesistype: ~
title: Discrete conventional signalling of a continuous variable
type: journalp
userid: 6801
volume: 56
<script src="//archive-bar.soton.ac.uk/archive-bar.js"></script>