Condition-dependent signaling affects male sexual attractiveness in field crickets, Gryllus campestris

Details

Ressource 1Download: BIB_31D1EA28370C.P001.pdf (137.86 [Ko])
State: Public
Version: author
Serval ID
serval:BIB_31D1EA28370C
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Condition-dependent signaling affects male sexual attractiveness in field crickets, Gryllus campestris
Journal
Behavioral Ecology
Author(s)
Holzer B.
ISSN
1465-7279
Publication state
Published
Issued date
01/05/2003
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
14
Number
3
Pages
353-359
Language
english
Abstract
The condition dependence of sexually selected traits is an important assumption of sexual selection theory. Several laboratory studies have documented a positive relationship between food availability, body condition, and sexual display. However, these studies might not reflect the resource allocation between body maintenance, reserves, and the sexually selected trait under natural conditions. Further, the effect of condition-dependent signaling on female mate choice has hardly been investigated experimentally in the field. We therefore investigated the effect of food availability on body condition, calling behavior, and sexual attractiveness of male field crickets, Gryllus campestris, under field conditions. Food availability was manipulated for individual males by supplementing food in a confined area close to the burrow. Food-supplemented males showed a significant increase in body condition, whereas the opposite was found in the control males. Males receiving extra food called more frequently, whereas the calling-song characteristics were not affected by the treatment. Further, food-supplemented males attracted more females than did control males, and their higher attractiveness was partly explained by their superior calling rate. Our study thus indicates condition-dependent signaling as an important determinant of the sexual attractiveness of males to females under natural condition.
Keywords
Animal Science and Zoology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, body condition, calling behavior, condition dependence, field cricket, Gryllus campestris, sexual attractiveness, sexual selection, signaling
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
19/11/2007 10:01
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:17
Usage data