Exploring the Links Between Anti-Predator Behavior and Mating Behavior

这项研究考察了交配行为和对捕食者的谨慎程度之间的联系。实验将在一种叫格里勒斯整数的蟋蟀上进行，这种蟋蟀的雌性更喜欢叫声较长的雄性。雌性的谨慎程度将被衡量为当它们被放置在一个不熟悉的环境中时从避难所出来所需的时间。为了测量雌性的交配偏好，一个跟踪装置会测量雌性在回应雄性的叫声时奔跑的速度、距离和运动角度。交配偏好将与谨慎得分相结合，以检验交配偏好较强的雌性是否比交配偏好较弱的雌性更谨慎或更大胆。为了测试当明显的捕食风险增加时，选择性是否会下降，雌性将在存在和不存在威胁性视觉刺激的情况下进行测试。最后，为了检验雌性在感知到捕食风险增加时选择配偶的灵活性，研究人员将向雌性呈现一系列分级的视觉威胁刺激。据预测，随着被捕食风险的增加，女性在选择配偶时变得不那么挑剔。拟议中的实验将提供雌性个体在交配行为和谨慎性之间联系的详细信息。这一信息对于当前的雌性交配偏好进化模型至关重要，因为它解决了自然选择和性选择之间的平衡。

This study examines links between mating behavior and cautiousness towards predators. Experiments will be conducted on a cricket, Gryllus integer, in which females prefer males with long calls. Cautiousness of females will be measured as the time required to emerge from a shelter when placed in an unfamiliar environment. To measure female mating preferences, a tracking device will measure the speed, distance and angle of movement as the female runs in response to alternative male calls. Mating preferences will be combined with cautiousness scores to examine whether females with stronger mating preferences are either more cautious or more bold than females with weaker mating preferences. To test whether selectivity declines when apparent predation risk increases, females will be tested in the presence and absence of a threatening visual stimulus. Finally, to examine flexibility in female mate choices as perceived predation risk increases, females will be presented with a graded series of visually threatening stimuli. Females are predicted to become less selective in their mate choices as perceived predation risk increases. The proposed experiments will provide detailed information on the links in individual females between mating behavior and cautiousness. This information is critically important for current models of the evolution of female mating preferences, because it addresses the balance between natural selection and sexual selection.