Evolution of acoustical communication in insects

昆虫声音通讯的进化

• 批准号: 6174-2007
• 负责人: Cade, William
• 金额: $ 1.89万
• 依托单位: University of Lethbridge
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2007-01-01 至 2008-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=362480
• 关键词: Evolution; acoustical; communication; insects

In field crickets, Gryllus texensis, calling males attract females from a distance. But calling males also attract parasitic flies, Ormia ochracea, that deposit living maggots on calling males.  Fly larvae devour the cricket in about 7 days.  Calling more loudly or more often by male crickets attracts more female cricket, but more parasitic flies are also attracted.  The mating behaviour of G. texensis has been strongly influenced by flies.  For example, male crickets often remain silent near calling males where they intercept females attracted by the calling of other males, so-called satellite behaviour.  Many previously silent males start calling just before dawn, a time when flies are less active.   Male G. texensis are also much younger than female crickets.  We are studying the rates of fly attraction to different types of cricket songs, the levels of parasitism in areas where different species of crickets are hosts, and the reproduction and lifespan of male crickets under different conditions of fly density. Many laboratories are now extending our studies including the neurobiology of fly hearing, complete loss of song in some crickets  and the use of flies to control imported cricket pests.We also study acoustical communication in Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, Gromphadorhina portentosa.  In this species males produce loud hisses when disturbed and when fighting and courting.  The intensity of male hisses is strongly correlated with body size and we are studying ways in which females evaluate males as mates based on their hisses.This program involves postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students and collaborators at overseas universities thus contributing to the education of highly qualified personnel.

在野外蟋蟀中，雄性蟋蟀会从远处吸引雌性蟋蟀。但是，雄性蟋蟀的鸣叫也会吸引寄生蝇类Ormia ochracea，这种寄生蝇类会在鸣叫的雄性蟋蟀身上留下存款活蛆。蝇类幼虫在大约7天内将蟋蟀吞噬。雄性蟋蟀更大声或更频繁的鸣叫会吸引更多的雌性蟋蟀，但也会吸引更多的寄生蝇类。texensis受到苍蝇的强烈影响。例如，雄性蟋蟀经常在鸣叫的雄性附近保持沉默，在那里它们拦截被其他雄性的鸣叫吸引的雌性，即所谓的卫星行为。许多以前沉默的雄性蟋蟀在黎明前开始鸣叫，这是苍蝇不太活跃的时候。 雄性G.我们现正研究不同种类的蟋蟀鸣叫吸引苍蝇的比率、不同种类蟋蟀在寄主地区的寄生率，以及在不同苍蝇密度的情况下，雄性蟋蟀的繁殖和寿命。许多实验室现在正在扩展我们的研究，包括苍蝇听力的神经生物学，一些蟋蟀的歌声完全消失，以及利用苍蝇控制进口蟋蟀害虫。我们还研究马达加斯加的声音通信。Gromphadorhina portentosa。在这个物种中，雄性在受到干扰时，以及在战斗和求偶时会发出响亮的嘶嘶声。雄性嘶嘶声的强度与身体大小密切相关，正在研究女性如何根据男性的嘶嘶声来评价其配偶。该项目涉及博士后研究员、研究生和本科生以及海外大学的合作者，从而为培养高素质人才做出贡献。