Sexual signalling and viability in a wolf spider (Hygrolycosa rubrofasciata): measurements under laboratory and field conditions |
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Authors: | Janne S Kotiaho Rauno V Alatalo Johanna Mappes Silja Parri |
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Institution: | Department of Biological and Environmental Science Konnevesi Research Station, University of Jyv?skyl? P.O. Box 35, FIN-40351 Jyv?skyl?, Finland, FI
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Abstract: | This study examined the crucial prediction of the conditional-handicap theory, the relationship between male sexual trait
size and male viability, in the wolf spider Hygrolycosa rubrofasciata. In this species, males court females by drumming dry leaves with their abdomen, and males with the highest drumming rate
enjoy highest mating success. We determined male drumming rate, body mass, and mobility, which reflects mate-searching activity,
in relation to male survival. Because it is often difficult to know how results obtained from laboratory studies reflect the
natural world, particularly when the measured variable is survival, we repeated our study in both laboratory and field conditions.
Males drumming at the highest rate survived better than males drumming at a lower rate in both laboratory and field conditions.
These results are in accordance with the predictions of conditional-handicap models of sexual selection. Survival was independent
of male body mass and there was no significant correlation between male drumming activity and body mass. However, large males
moved further than smaller males, and males moving longer distances lost less mass than those moving shorter distances. These
results suggest that, moving, and consequently mate-searching activity, may be a condition-dependent trait and that there
may be a advantage for large males in mate searching.
Received: 22 October 1998 / Received in revised form: 28 January 1999 / Accepted: 14 February 1999 |
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Keywords: | Conditional handicap Hygrolycosa rubrofasciata Laboratory versus field study Mate choice Sexual selection Viability |
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