The effect of temperature on male mating signals and female choice in the red mason bee, Osmia bicornis (L.).

ABSTRACT: Climate change and the resulting changes in air temperature are known to have a major influence on most animals, especially poikilothermic insects, because they depend on the high enough temperatures to function. Previous studies have shown that various signals can be affected by changes in temperature. However, research into the effect of temperature on mating signals and subsequently communication between mates and on female choice is still rare. In the red mason bee, Osmia bicornis, which emerges early in spring and is therefore subject to extensive temperature changes, females choose suitable males based on, among other criteria, their thorax vibrations and odor. So far there has been no research into the effect of temperature changes on these signals. We therefore investigated

SUBMITTER: Conrad T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5677480 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature