The function of mate guarding in a field cricket (Orthoptera: Gryllidae;Teleogryllus natalensis otte and cade)

Hockham, Leon R.; Vahed, Karim

doi:10.1007/bf02765557

Cited by 31 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Forced copulation is impossible in gryllid crickets as the female mounts the male and both have to cooperate in the transfer of the spermatophore. Male crickets, however, can court females vigorously, often attempting to sequester females down burrows (Simmons, 1992; Bateman, 2000) or mate guarding them attentively (Sakaluk, 1991; Hockham & Vahed, 1997; Bateman & MacFadyen, 1999; Bateman, Gilson & Ferguson, 2001). This could constitute coercion to mate and harassment that result, in costs for the females in terms of mate choice and, ultimately, longevity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Courtship and copulation, but not ejaculates, reduce the longevity of female field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus)

2006

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Females of many taxa incur fitness costs from male sexual coercion and harassment leading to mating. Although male crickets cannot force copulations on females, female Gryllus bimaculatus in this study incurred significant reductions in longevity through being exposed to different levels of male courtship. Virgin females kept in isolation had the longest life spans. Reductions in longevity applied to females in sensory contact with males (without the opportunity to mate), females that courted and mated and females that mated but with fertilization being prevented. Females also incurred significant reductions in longevity when kept with other females, which may have been due to high levels of cannibalism. Consistent with previous studies, females appeared to incur no cost to longevity from receiving sperm or seminal fluid. It is known that female G. bimaculatus benefit genetically from multiple mating. However, this benefit could possibly be offset by the negative effect that male courtship and mating behaviour has on female longevity.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Courtship and copulation, but not ejaculates, reduce the longevity of female field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus)

2006

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“…Theoretically, it functions as a sperm protection behaviour, in that the mated male keeps rivals away from a female that he has inseminated, and thus reduces the risk of sperm competition. In crickets, where mate guarding is widespread ( Loher & Rence 1978; Simmons 1986; Sakaluk 1991; Hockham & Vahed 1997; Bateman & Toms 1998), there are three main theories as to its function.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mate Guarding in the Cricket Gryllodes sigillatus: Influence of Multiple Potential Partners

Bateman¹,

MacFadyen²

1999

Ethology

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There are several hypotheses as to the function of postcopulatory mate guarding. Control over the mate‐guarding period by either sex could potentially influence relative reproductive success. Mate‐guarding behaviour in Gryllodes sigillatus was studied under several conditions: 1. undisturbed pairs; 2. pairs with a single male intruder; 3. pairs exposed acoustically, visually and olfactorily to several other males; 4. pairs exposed freely to several other males; and 5. pairs exposed freely to several other females. The results provide support for the spermatophore retention and rival defence hypotheses. The efficacy of mate guarding was not compromised by the pair being in acoustic, visual and olfactory contact with several other males. Once pairs were exposed to free contact with several other males, the spermatophore retention time by the female declined significantly, indicating that the mate guarder’s efficiency declines under competition from several rivals. In pairs exposed to contact with several females after mating, the mate‐guarding period and spermatophore retention time declined as the mate guarder abandoned the mated female and pursued the other females. Termination of the effective mate‐guarding period by either sex seems to be influenced by the number of other potential partners present.

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“…Alternatively, aggression could be selected for if it prolongs spermatophore attachment time (Loher and Rence 1978;Evans 1988;Hockham and Vahed 1997;Bateman and MacFadyen 1999;Bateman et al 2001). Several authors have proposed that male behavior during post-copulatory guarding might allow females to assess a male's health and vigor, such that vigilant or vigorous guards, being the most desirable mates, signal their genetic superiority by their ability to harass females (Thornhill and Alcock 1983;Simmons 1986Simmons , 1990Simmons , 1991Hockham and Vahed 1997).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several authors have proposed that male behavior during post-copulatory guarding might allow females to assess a male's health and vigor, such that vigilant or vigorous guards, being the most desirable mates, signal their genetic superiority by their ability to harass females (Thornhill and Alcock 1983;Simmons 1986Simmons , 1990Simmons , 1991Hockham and Vahed 1997). An alternative explanation, however, is that the intensity of mate guarding is the result of sexual conflict (Parker 1979;Chapman et al 2003b;Arnqvist and Rowe 2005), so that males who stand to lose the most by CFC are the most vigorous guards.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Conflict and Cryptic Female Choice in the Black Field Cricket, Teleogryllus Commodus

Bussière

Hunt

Jennions

et al. 2006

Evol

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The function of mate guarding in a field cricket (Orthoptera: Gryllidae;Teleogryllus natalensis otte and cade)

Cited by 31 publications

References 16 publications

Courtship and copulation, but not ejaculates, reduce the longevity of female field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus)

Courtship and copulation, but not ejaculates, reduce the longevity of female field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus)

Mate Guarding in the Cricket Gryllodes sigillatus: Influence of Multiple Potential Partners

Sexual Conflict and Cryptic Female Choice in the Black Field Cricket, Teleogryllus Commodus

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