Abstract
Secondary sexual traits are expected to reflect a balance between sexual selection and natural selection. We test the hypothesis that plasticity in sexual advertisement behaviors can influence this trade-off, allowing showier traits than expected for a given level of predation risk. Specifically, we tested whether the degree of behavioral plasticity exhibited in response to chemical cues of a co-occurring predatory wolf spider corresponds to courtship rate and the degree of ornamentation in male wolf spiders. Both ornamented (brush-legged) males and non-ornamented males decreased locomotion, decreased their likelihood to court, and increased their time to initiate courtship in response to predator cues. However, brush-legged males increased their time to initiate courtship more than did non-ornamented males, demonstrating a greater response to the risk of predation for the more ornamented males. Similarly, within brush-legged males, individuals with the highest courtship rates also showed the greatest degree of plasticity in time to initiate courtship across predation contexts, whereas behavioral plasticity was independent of courtship rate for non-ornamented males. We found no correlation between ornament size and plasticity in response to predator cues within brush-legged males. Ultimately, we suggest that our data provide support for the hypothesis that behavioral plasticity in response to predator cues may alter the trade-off between predation risk and sexual advertisement and may be more important for males with higher degrees of conspicuousness in ornamentation and courtship.
Highlights
IntroductionLive brush-legged males from the mixed Mississippi population have been shown to be the recipients of quicker attacks than their non-ornamented male counterparts from predators in laboratory studies allowing for visual and vibratory courtship displays (Fowler-Finn and Hebets 2011)
We suggest that our data provide support for the hypothesis that behavioral plasticity in response to predator cues may alter the trade-off between predation risk and sexual advertisement and may be more important for males with higher degrees of conspicuousness in ornamentation and courtship
We only used individuals who expressed courtship and did not look at its relationship with likelihood to court. Both morphs decreased courtship and locomotory behavior in the predator present environment. Both morphs were less likely to court when predator cues were present, and we found no difference between the morphs either within or between predator cue treatments (Table 1; Figure 1a)
Summary
Live brush-legged males from the mixed Mississippi population have been shown to be the recipients of quicker attacks than their non-ornamented male counterparts from predators in laboratory studies allowing for visual and vibratory courtship displays (Fowler-Finn and Hebets 2011) Together, these studies demonstrate an increased predation risk associated with male foreleg brushes, yet prior studies do not speak to any potential behavioral adjustments associated with this increased risk. Using Schizocosa wolf spiders of 2 different morphs and building on the above-mentioned studies, we manipulate the cues that influence an individual’s perceived predation risk (via the presence/absence of predator silk and excreta) and assess courtship behavior in order to test the hypothesis that an individual’s response to predation risk is associated with its degree of ornamentation. We predict that the degree of behavioral adjustment will correspond to brush size as males with larger brushes experience quicker orientations by predators (Roberts et al 2007; Roberts and Uetz 2008)
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