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Temporal resolution for calling song signals by female crickets, Gryllus bimaculatus

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Abstract

A behavioural gap detection paradigm was used to determine the temporal resolution for song patterns by female crickets, Gryllus bimaculatus. For stimuli with a modulation depth of 100% the critical gap duration was 6–8 ms. A reduction of the modulation depth of gaps to 50% led either to an increase or a decrease of the critical gap duration. In the latter case, the critical gap duration dropped to 3–4 ms indicating a higher sensitivity of auditory processing. The response curve for variation of pulse period was not limited by temporal resolution. However, the reduced response to stimuli with a high duty cycle, and thus short pause durations, was in accordance with the limits of temporal resolution. The critical duration of masking pulses inserted into pauses was 4–6 ms. An analysis of the songs of males revealed that gaps (5.8 ms) and masking pulses (6.9 ms) were at detectable time scales for the auditory pathway of female crickets. However, most of the observed temporal variation of song patterns was tolerated by females. Critical cues such as pulse period and pulse duty cycle provided little basis for inter-individual selection by females.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Jan Clemens and Bernhard Ronacher for critical reading of the manuscript and Richard Kempter for careful comments on a revised version of the manuscript. We also gratefully acknowledge the skilful assistance by Katja Jaskowiak for the envelope analysis of male songs. The performed experiments comply with the “Principles of animal care”, publication No. 86–23, revised 1985 of the National Institute of Health, and also with the current laws of Germany. Supported by SFB 618 ‘Theoretical Biology’.

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  1. Behavioural Physiology, Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstr. 43, 10115, Berlin, Germany

    E. Schneider & R. M. Hennig

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  1. E. Schneider
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  2. R. M. Hennig
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Correspondence to R. M. Hennig.

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Schneider, E., Hennig, R.M. Temporal resolution for calling song signals by female crickets, Gryllus bimaculatus . J Comp Physiol A 198, 181–191 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-011-0698-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-011-0698-6

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