1 / 29

The Significance of Symmetry in Insect Communication Systems: A Detailed Analysis of Cricket Songs by Simmons & Ritchie

This critical examination explores how symmetry impacts communication in Gryllus bimaculatus. Male crickets sing to attract females, with their harp size and call characteristics correlated with symmetry. Females prefer symmetrical males based on acoustic cues. The study delves into the relationship between wing morphology, asymmetry, and female choice, shedding light on the acoustic preferences of both genders.

denton
Download Presentation

The Significance of Symmetry in Insect Communication Systems: A Detailed Analysis of Cricket Songs by Simmons & Ritchie

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The importance of symmetry in an insect communication system. A critical examination of “Symmetry in the songs of crickets” Simmons & Ritchie (1996) Luke Verburgt Prof J.W.H. Ferguson Dr T. Weber

  2. Introduction Males sing to attract females Gryllus bimaculatus

  3. Introduction Bandwidth 0.4kHz 5.3 kHz 4.9 ~ 150ms

  4. Introduction  FA Fluctuating Asymmetry (R-L) Developmental Instability

  5. Introduction  DA Directional Asymmetry (R-L) Genetically determined

  6. Simmons & Ritchie (summary) • MALES • Harp size is correlated with body size • Call frequency is correlated with harp size • Call bandwidth is correlated with DA of harp • FA morph is correlated with DA of harp • Therefore: Females can “hear” how symmetrical a male is • FEMALES • Prefer pure-tones indicative of a symmetrical male • Therefore: • Females can “choose” symmetrical males acoustically

  7. The Male Wing….

  8. The Male Wing….

  9. Male Harp Area vs Size

  10. Male Frequency Results

  11. Male Bandwidth Results

  12. Male Bandwidth Results

  13. Male FA Results

  14. Conclusion for Males • Harp size is correlated with body size • Call frequency is correlated with harp size • Call bandwidth is correlated with DA of harp • FA morph is correlated with DA of harp Therefore: Females can NOT“hear” how symmetrical a male is

  15. Kramer spherical treadmill Speaker Cricket Sphere

  16. Female frequency response….

  17. Female frequency response….

  18. Female frequency response…. y = -0.7364067647x8+30.9904983205x7-563.878302226x6+5795.0167254032x5-36803.3533238713x4+147952.6446x3-367735.2038x2+516575.2812x-313757.8008

  19. Female frequency response….

  20. Female frequency response….

  21. Female frequency response….

  22. Female bandwidth response…. 5 4.8

  23. Female bandwidth response….

  24. Female bandwidth response….

  25. Female bandwidth response….

  26. Female bandwidth response….

  27. Multiple regression…. Area under BW curve 1) Area under Frequency curve 2) Poly-predicted Frequency preference F2,109 = 15.24; R2 = 0.22; p<0.001 Area under Frequency curve  p=0.008 Poly-predicted Frequency preference p = 0.005

  28. Conclusion for Females • FEMALES • Prefer pure-tones indicative of a symmetrical male • Therefore: • Females can NOT “choose” symmetrical males acoustically rather A female will tolerate a certain bandwidth range which is pre-defined by her frequency response range

  29. Acknowledgements • Dr. H.U. Kleindienst • Heidrun Bamberg Funding & logistics • Dr. Xim Cerda • Marna Ferreira

More Related