Abstract
We studied male phonotactic behaviors elicited by acoustic cues that simulate conspecific male songs in the field cricket, Gryllus texensis. Males exhibited significant positive phonotaxis in response to the simulated song stimuli, but showed no such response to atypical song stimuli. We found no significant relationship between males’ own calling behavior and their phonotactic responses to the stimuli. Analyses indicated that larger males exhibited greater phonotactic responses, which may indicate a greater tendency to engage in aggressive interactions if size is an indicator of fighting ability. Male phonotactic responses were significantly weaker than those exhibited by females, and adult males did not exhibit stronger responses with increasing age as has been documented for females. Observed sex differences in the strengths of phonotactic responses may reflect differences in the fitness-payoffs of responding. That is, females are under strong selection pressure to respond to male songs and subsequently mate. In contrast, males responding to acoustic signals from other males need not precisely locate the signaler but would likely move to areas where females are likely to be found. Alternatively, males might benefit from avoiding areas with calling males and establishing their own calling stations away from competing males.
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Acknowledgments
We wish to thank B. Kitsch, E. Jeffery, and J. Sloan for their help in maintaining cricket cultures and aiding in the experiments. T. McDonald, D. Gray and S. Walker provided invaluable assistance and advice in using the Kugel apparatus. Several anonymous reviewers provided insightful comments that improved the paper. We also wish to thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (grant to W.H.C.), the University of Lethbridge, and Utica College (Leadership Fund to T.M.M.) for support and funding.
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McCarthy, T.M., Keyes, J. & Cade, W.H. Phonotactic Behavior of Male Field Crickets (Gryllus texensis) in Response to Acoustic Calls From Conspecific Males. J Insect Behav 26, 634–648 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-013-9375-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-013-9375-7