A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä
Dominance is not always an honest signal of male quality, but females may be able to detect the dishonesty
Tekijät: Pölkki M, Kortet R, Hedrick A, Rantala MJ
Kustantaja: ROYAL SOC
Julkaisuvuosi: 2013
Journal: Biology Letters
Tietokannassa oleva lehden nimi: BIOLOGY LETTERS
Lehden akronyymi: BIOL LETTERS
Artikkelin numero: ARTN 20121002
Numero sarjassa: 1
Vuosikerta: 9
Numero: 1
Sivujen määrä: 4
ISSN: 1744-9561
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2012.1002
Tiivistelmä
Females prefer dominant males as mating partners in numerous species. Male dominance rank is considered as an honest signal of male quality, because only healthy males in good condition are thought to be able to win fights with other males. Here, we tested whether activation of the immune system influences the success of males in male-male competition and mating in the field cricket, Gryllus integer. We activated the immune system of males with a nylon monofilament (to mimic a parasitoid larva), and arranged fights between male pairs to assess male dominance and associated mating success. Activation of the immune system with nylon monofilament substantially enhanced the fighting success of males during male-male competition but had no effect on mating success. However, sham-manipulation (a wound only) did not have any effect on fighting success although females mated more often with dominant males. Our study suggests that when male crickets meet an apparent survival threat they may behave more dominantly, probably owing to terminal investment. Male success during male-male competition is not always an honest signal of males' quality, but females may be able to detect this dishonesty.
Females prefer dominant males as mating partners in numerous species. Male dominance rank is considered as an honest signal of male quality, because only healthy males in good condition are thought to be able to win fights with other males. Here, we tested whether activation of the immune system influences the success of males in male-male competition and mating in the field cricket, Gryllus integer. We activated the immune system of males with a nylon monofilament (to mimic a parasitoid larva), and arranged fights between male pairs to assess male dominance and associated mating success. Activation of the immune system with nylon monofilament substantially enhanced the fighting success of males during male-male competition but had no effect on mating success. However, sham-manipulation (a wound only) did not have any effect on fighting success although females mated more often with dominant males. Our study suggests that when male crickets meet an apparent survival threat they may behave more dominantly, probably owing to terminal investment. Male success during male-male competition is not always an honest signal of males' quality, but females may be able to detect this dishonesty.
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