Fighting over defense chemicals disrupts mating behavior.

ABSTRACT: Studies on intraspecific contest behavior predominantly focus on contests between individuals of the same sex, however contest behavior is also expected to occur between individuals of the opposite sex including possible mates. Here we investigate potential trade-offs between mating and fighting behavior in the turnip sawfly (Athalia rosae). Adults of this species collect chemical defense compounds (clerodanoids) directly from plants but also indirectly by nibbling on conspecifics that have already obtained clerodanoids, a highly aggressive behavioral interaction. An A. rosae individual without clerodanoids may therefore be the potential mate or attacker of an individual of the opposite sex that has gained clerodanoids. To test the effect of clerodanoids on agonistic and mati

SUBMITTER: Paul SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9015217 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature