Vibrational communication is widespread in insect social and ecological interactions. Of the species that communicate using sound, water surface ripples, or substrate vibrations, we estimate 92% use vibrations alone with other forms of mechanical signaling. signals differ dramatically from airborne sounds, often having low frequencies, pure tones, combinations contrasting acoustic elements. Plants are most widely used for transmitting vibrational signals. Plant can vary their signal...

The large body of theory on speciation with gene flow has brought to light fundamental differences in the effects two types mating rules speciation: preference/trait rules, which divergence both (female) preferences and (male) traits is necessary for assortment, matching individuals mate like basis presence or alleles that they have common. These can emerge from a variety behavioral other mechanisms ways are not always obvious. We discuss theoretical properties explain why generally thought...

Mate choice is considered an important influence in the evolution of mating signals and other sexual traits, and--since divergence traits causes reproductive isolation--it can be agent population divergence. The importance mate signal evaluated by comparing male with female preference functions, taking into account shape strength preferences. Specifically, when preferences are closed (favouring intermediate values), there should a correlation between preferred values trait means, stronger...

Abstract Sexual communication can contribute to population divergence and speciation because of its effect on assortative mating. We examined the role in mating Enchenopa binotata species complex treehoppers. These plant-feeding insects are a well studied case sympatric resulting from shifts novel host-plant species. Shifting hosts with different phenologies causes changes life-history timing. In concert high host fidelity, these reduce gene flow between populations ancestral facilitate...

An individual's prior experience of sexual signals can result in variation mate preferences, with important consequences for the course selection. We test two hypotheses about evolution experience-mediated plasticity preferences: mating assurance and mismating avoidance. exposed female Enchenopa binotata treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae) to treatments that varied their signal frequency, most divergent trait E. species complex. Treatments consisted (1) matching preferred (2-3) deviating...

A combination of divergent natural and sexual selection is a powerful cause speciation. This conjunction evolutionary forces may often occur when divergence initiated by ecological differences between populations because local adaptation to new resources can lead changes in selection. The hypothesis that resource use contribute the evolution reproductive isolation altering nature predicts that: (1) traits, such as signals preferences, are an important source species using different...

A study has been made of plant host specificity flower-feeding Drosophila collected in western, central, and eastern Panama, the west coast Colombia, Trinidad, W. I., Leticia, on headwaters Amazon River. Three four species single were found each two collecting areas, respectively, central Panama. These flies bred only from flowers their special hosts never other plants vicinity. fluctuation population numbers drosophilid is correlated with period blossoming species. Monophagous occupy long...

Abstract The contribution of sexual selection to diversification remains poorly understood after decades research. This may be in part because studies have focused predominantly on the strength selection, which offers an incomplete view regimes. By contrast, students natural focus environmental differences that help compare regimes across populations. To ask how this disparity affect conclusions evolutionary research, we relate amount mating displays quantitative descriptions and divergence...

The male genitalia of arthropods consistently show negative static allometry (the small males a species are disproportionally large, and those large small). We discuss relations between the 'one-size-fits-all' hypothesis to explain this regimes selection that may be acting on genitalia. focus contrasts directional vs. stabilizing selection, natural sexual selection. In addition, we point out some common methodological problems in studies genital allometry. One-size-fits-all types arguments...

Abstract Experience of sexual signals can alter mate preferences and influence the course selection. Here, we examine patterns experience‐mediated plasticity in that arise response to variation composition mates environment. We use these test hypotheses about potential sources selection favouring plasticity. manipulated signal experience female E nchenopa treehoppers ( H emiptera: M embracidae) a vibrational playback experiment with following treatments: silence; two types non‐preferred...

We use allometric analysis to explore how acoustic signals scale on individual body size and test hypotheses about the factors shaping relationships between size. Across case studies spanning birds, crickets, tree frogs, we find that most signal traits had low coefficients of variation, shallow scalings, little dispersion around function. relate variation in these measures shape mate preferences level condition dependence traits. 3 major patterns: 1) associated with closed lower shallower...

Abstract At the most basic level, an individual has consciousness when it subjective experience. And experience is generated by constructing a mental model of its environment and position in it, perceiving navigating world through that internal, brain-generated model. Here we use this rationale to derive prediction behavioural assays test for animals. Animals perceive their internal will sometimes be distracted from current state due attention object mind. We tested with black widow spiders,...

Abstract Study of the genetic and developmental architecture mate preferences lags behind study sexual ornaments. This is in part because challenges involved describing preferences, which are expressed as a function variation We used function‐valued approach to test for environmental components female E nchenopa treehoppers ( H emiptera: M embracidae). These insects communicate with plant‐borne vibrational signals, offer case speciation involving selection change. focused on male signal...

Female behavior involved in the expression of mate preferences often entails production cues that males may use to adjust their efforts and tactics, thus generating interactive back–and–forth reproductive dynamics. We investigated whether female duetting Enchenopa treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae) offers about how attractive females find signaling modify accordingly. Playback experiments with 4 species showed stimulus attractiveness influenced likelihood, duration, dominant frequency...

Sexual traits vary tremendously in static allometry. This variation may be explained part by body size-related differences the strength of selection. We tested this hypothesis with two populations vervet monkeys, using estimates level condition dependence for different morphological as a proxy In support hypothesis, we found that steepness allometric slopes increased dependence. One trait particular interest, penis, had shallow and low levels dependence, agreement one most consistent...

Female response to male advertisement signals in lesser waxmoths showed substantial genetic variation, phenotypic plasticity across rearing environments, and genotype‐by‐environment interactions resulting crossing reaction norms. These results represent two previously underemphasized means by which variation may be maintained sexually selected traits: female traits, the selection acting on both males females. Genotype‐by‐environment norms that cross indicate divergent act sexual traits if...