02042nas a2200205   4500008004100000022001400041245007700055210006900132260001600201300001400217490000800231520141900239653002701658653002001685653001801705653001801723653001501741100002501756856005501781       2014                        eng d  a0340-759400aSelective phonotaxis of female crickets under natural outdoor conditions0 aSelective phonotaxis of female crickets under natural outdoor co  cJan-03-2014  a239 - 2500 v2003 aAcoustic mate choice in insects has been extensively studied under laboratory conditions, using different behavioural paradigms. Ideally, however, mate choice designs should reflect natural conditions, including the physical properties of the transmission channel for the signal. Since little is known about the discrimination ability of females between male song variants under natural conditions, we performed phonotaxis experiments with female field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) outdoors, using two-choice decisions based on differences in carrier frequency, sound pressure level, and chirp rate. For all three song parameters, minimum differences necessary for a significant preference between two song models were considerably larger outdoors compared to laboratory conditions. A minimum amplitude difference of 5 dB was required for a significant choice in the field, compared to only 1–2 dB reported for lab-based experiments. Due to the tuned receiver system, differences in carrier frequency equal differences in perceived loudness, and the results on choice for differences in carrier frequency corroborate those in amplitude. Similarly, chirp rate differences of 50 chirps/min were required outdoors compared to only 20 chirps/min in the lab. For predictions about patterns of sexual selection, future studies need to consider the different outcomes of mate choice decisions in lab and field trials.10aacoustic communication10aDecision making10aFemale choice10aField cricket10aphonotaxis1 aHirtenlehner, Stefan  uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00359-014-0881-7