Selective phonotaxis of female crickets under natural outdoor conditions

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2014
Authors:Hirtenlehner
Journal:Journal of Comparative Physiology A
Volume:200
Issue:3
Pagination:239 - 250
Date Published:Jan-03-2014
ISSN:0340-7594
Nyckelord:acoustic communication, Decision making, Female choice, Field cricket, phonotaxis
Abstrakt:

Acoustic 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.

URL:http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00359-014-0881-7
DOI:10.1007/s00359-014-0881-7
Short Title:J Comp Physiol A
BioAcoustica ID: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith