Abstract
The expression of male reproductive behavior is correlated with female intermolt stage in the amphipod crustacean Gammarus palustris. Previous studies suggested that three factors that vary with female intermolt stage influence males: (1) waterborne pheromones, (2) contact pheromones on females' exoskeleta; and (3) female behavior. The present study was conducted to determine whether a fourth factor, developmental stage of brooded embryos, might also affect male behavior. In addition, the effects of the embryos on the females' own behaviors and physiologies were examined. The contents of the females' brood pouches were altered by removing the broods of females of specific intermolt stages, and presenting the females with embryos of other females. G. palustris females readily place conspecifics' embryos in their pouches. Thus males' responses to females at the same intermolt stage but with broods of different developmental stages could be observed. The data showed that the nature of the females' brood pouches had no measurable effect on male behavior. In addition, the embryos' ages did not affect female intermolt period, reproductive behavior, or reproductive physiology.
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