Can behaviour impede evolution? Persistence of singing effort after morphological song loss in crickets.

ABSTRACT: Evolutionary loss of sexual signals is widespread. Examining the consequences for behaviours associated with such signals can provide insight into factors promoting or inhibiting trait loss. We tested whether a behavioural component of a sexual trait, male calling effort, has been evolutionary reduced in silent populations of Hawaiian field crickets (Teleogryllus oceanicus). Cricket song requires energetically costly wing movements, but 'flatwing' males have feminized wings that preclude song and protect against a lethal, eavesdropping parasitoid. Flatwing males express wing movement patterns associated with singing but, in contrast with normal-wing males, sustained periods of wing movement cannot confer sexual selection benefits and should be subject to strong negative selec

SUBMITTER: Rayner JG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7336857 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature