The complex interplay between macronutrient intake, cuticular hydrocarbon expression and mating success in male decorated crickets

J. Rapkin, K. Jensen, C. M. House, S. K. Sakaluk, J. K. Sakaluk, J. Hunt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The condition dependence of male sexual traits plays a central role in sexual selection theory. Relatively little, however, is known about the condition dependence of chemical signals used in mate choice and their subsequent effects on male mating success. Furthermore, few studies have isolated the specific nutrients responsible for condition-dependent variation in male sexual traits. Here, we used nutritional geometry to determine the effect of protein (P) and carbohydrate (C) intake on male cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) expression and mating success in male decorated crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus). We show that both traits are maximized at a moderate-to-high intake of nutrients in a P:C ratio of 1 : 1.5. We also show that female precopulatory mate choice exerts a complex pattern of linear and quadratic sexual selection on this condition-dependent variation in male CHC expression. Structural equation modelling revealed that although the effect of nutrient intake on mating success is mediated through condition-dependent CHC expression, it is not exclusively so, suggesting that other traits must also play an important role. Collectively, our results suggest that the complex interplay between nutrient intake, CHC expression and mating success plays an important role in the operation of sexual selection in G. sigillatus.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)711-727
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Evolutionary Biology
Volume30
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Keywords

  • crickets
  • house cricket
  • hydrocarbon
  • nutrition
  • reproduction
  • sexual selection

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The complex interplay between macronutrient intake, cuticular hydrocarbon expression and mating success in male decorated crickets'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this