The evolution of courtship displays in Galliformes

Species in Galliformes have elaborate ritual courtship displays,often including strutting,fluffing of tail or head feathers,and vocal sounds that serve as excellent examples of sexual selection.According to the male orientation to the female while either posturing or moving,these courtship displays of gallinaceous species can be classified into three categories:1)‘frontal displays’,2)‘lateral displays’,and 3)‘both frontal and lateral displays’.Questions regarding which category of displays is the ancestral state and the evolutionary history of courtship displays in Galliformes remain unanswered.We collected and classified 131 species in terms of their courtship displays into the three categories listed above and carried out a large-scale comparative analysis to reveal the evolutionary trajectory of this trait.We found that the ancestral state of courtship displays of Galliformes involves both relatively short and straightforward frontal and lateral elements(i.e.,the category of‘both frontal and lateral displays’).Furthermore,ancestral trait reconstructions suggest that transitions from‘lateral displays’to‘frontal displays’occurred more frequently than the other way around(i.e.,from‘frontal displays’to‘lateral displays’).In addition,some transitions occurred from‘both frontal and lateral displays’to‘lateral displays’but not from‘both frontal and lateral displays’to‘frontal displays’.Ancestral state reconstruction of courtship displays at the root of the Galliformes phylogeny supports the‘both frontal and lateral displays’first scenario.This original state then evolved towards two extremes,either‘frontal displays’or‘lateral displays’,with more complicated and elaborate display components.Moreover,subsequent transitions occurred from‘lateral displays’to‘frontal displays’much more frequently than the other way around during the evolutionary history,indicating positive selection of‘frontal displays’.

n-octyl acrylate is a candidate sex pheromone component involved in courtship in parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator

Sex pheromones are considered to play critical roles in partner communication of most parasitic Hymenoptera.However,the identification of sex pheromone components remains limited to a few families of parasitoid wasps.In this study,we functionally characterized a candidate sex pheromone component in Microplitis mediator(Hymenoptera:Braconidae),a solitary parasitoid of Noctuidae insects.We found that the body surface extract from female wasps could significantly stimulate courtship behavior of males.Gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection(GC-EAD)analysis revealed that a candidate semiochemical from extract triggered significant electrophysiological response of antennae of males.By performing gas chromatography-mass spectrometer(GC-MS)measurement,GC-EAD active compound was identified as n-octyl acrylate,a candidate sex pheromone component in female M.mediator.In electroantennogram(EAG)tests,antennae of male wasps showed significantly higher electrophysiological responses to n-octyl acrylate than those of females.Y-tube olfactometer assays indicated that male wasps significantly chose n-octyl acrylate compared with the control.Furthermore,male wasps showed a remarkable preference for n-octyl acrylate in a simulated field condition behavioral trial;simultaneously,n-octyl acrylate standard could also trigger significant courtship behavior in males.We propose that n-octyl acrylate,as a candidate vital sex pheromone component,could be utilized to design behavioral regulators of M.mediator to implement the protection and utilization of natural enemies.

基于混沌求偶萤火虫算法的移动机器人路径规划

针对传统萤火虫算法应用于移动机器人路径规划中存在陷入局部最优和搜索精度低的问题,提出一种基于混沌求偶萤火虫算法的移动机器人路径规划方法。设计一种混沌求偶荧火虫算法,该算法采用混沌映射策略初始化种群,优化种群分布不均和搜索范围不足问题;利用求偶学习策略指导雄性萤火虫向雌性萤火虫学习,提高算法的收敛速度和求解精度。建立移动机器人路径规划的环境仿真模型,应用混沌求偶萤火虫算法进行移动机器人路径规划仿真。仿真结果表明:混沌求偶萤火虫算法比传统萤火虫算法和粒子群算法在路径长度上分别减少了3.075%和2.428%,拥有更高的搜索精度和跳出局部最优的能力。

竹林金针虫成虫的求偶及交配行为研究

【目的】竹林金针虫是我国南方地区1种重要的竹林地下害虫,研究其成虫求偶及交配行为对于该虫性信息素引诱剂的研发及应用有着重要意义。【方法】利用昆虫夜间行为观测的方法对筛胸梳爪叩甲(Melanotus cribricollis)雌、雄成虫的求偶、交配行为特征及节律进行了研究。【结果】筛胸梳爪叩甲成虫的求偶及交配行为表现出明显的阶段性特征,进入暗期90 min后开始发生求偶和交配行为,求偶和交配行为高峰期集中在21∶30—0∶30之间。出土日龄对成虫求偶节律影响不显著,但交配的比例与虫龄密切相关。成虫出土的当天便可交尾,第3日达到交配高峰,7日后交配结束。【结论】筛胸梳爪叩甲成虫求偶及交配高峰期明显,适合性信息素诱杀或干扰防治。

Hierarchical Control of Drosophila Sleep, Courtship, and Feeding Behaviors by Male-Specific P1 Neurons

Animals choose among sleep, courtship, and feeding behaviors based on the integration of both external sensory cues and internal states; such choices are essential for survival and reproduction. These competing behaviors are closely related and controlled by distinct neural circuits, but whether they are also regulated by shared neural nodes is unclear. Here, we investigated how a set of male-specific P1 neurons controls sleep, courtship, and feeding behaviors in Drosophila males. We found that mild activation of P1 neurons was sufficient to affect sleep, but not courtship or feeding, while stronger activation of P1 neurons labeled by four out of five independent drivers induced courtship, but only the driver that targeted the largest number of P1 neurons affected feeding. These results reveal a common neural node that affects sleep,courtship, and feeding in a threshold-dependent manner,and provide insights into how competing behaviors can be regulated by a shared neural node.

Fruit fly courtship： The female perspective

Research on fruit fly courtship has mostly focused on males＇ behavioral repertoire whereas females have been as- sumed to respond by either rejecting or accepting males. In many fruit fly species including Drosophila melanogaster, however, mating typically follows an extended period of courtship, which provides ample opportunities for females to inform males about their likelihood of mating. Our experiments indeed revealed that sexually immature females in both D. melanogasterand D. si- mulans showed responses to conspecific males that were distinct from those of sexually mature females. Furthermore, females＇ responses to conspecifie males were different from their responses to heterospecific males. Our data indicate that females＇ beha- vioral repertoire early in courtship can inform males about their probability of mating if they persist in courting. We hypothesize （i） that males can rely on behavioral feedback from females for optimally allocating their courtship efforts towards distinct female classes, （ii） that males may learn to modulate their courtship behavior based on specific feedback from females, and （iii） that fe- males may learn to alter their behavior towards distinct types of males in order to elicit the desired male response. Overall, we suggest that, although little explored, female behavior determines the dynamics of courtship and mating and can thus influence sexual selection and incipient speciation .

Is bigger better？ Male body size affects wing-borne courtship signals and mating success in the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae （Diptera： Tephritidae）

Variations in male body size are known to affect inter- and intrasexual selection outcomes in a wide range of animals. In mating systems involving sexual signaling before mating, body size often acts as a key factor affecting signal strength and mate choice. We evaluated the effect of male size on courtship displays and mating success of the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae （Diptera： Tephritidae）. Wing vibrations performed during successful and unsuccessful courtships by large and small males were recorded by high-speed videos and analyzed through frame-by-frame analysis. Mating success of large and small males was investigated. The effect of male-male competition on mating success was evaluated. Male body size affected both male courtship signals and mating outcomes. Successful males showed wing-borne signals with high frequencies and short interpulse intervals. Wing vibrations displayed by successful large males during copulation attempt had higher frequencies over smaller males and unsuccessful large males. In no-competition conditions, large males achieved higher mating success with respect to smaller ones. Allowing large and small males to compete for a female, large males achieve more mating success over smaller ones. Mate choice by females may be based on selection of the larger males, able to produce high-frequency wing vibrations. Such traits may be indicative of ＂good genes,＂ which under sexual selection could means good social-interaction genes, or a good competitive manipulator of conspecifics.

Medial Preoptic Area Modulates Courtship Ultrasonic Vocalization in Adult Male Mice

Adult male mice emit highly complex ultrasonic vocalizations(USVs)in response to female conspecifics.Such US Vs,thought to facilitate courtship behaviors,are routinely measured as a behavioral index in mouse models of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders such as autism.While the regulation of US Vs by genetic factors has been extensively characterized,the neural mechanisms that control USV production remain largely unknown.Here,we report that optogenetic activation of the medial preoptic area(mPOA)elicited the production of USVs that were acoustically similar to courtship US Vs in adult mice.Moreover,mPOA vesicular GABA transporter-positive(Vgat +)neurons were more effective at driving USV production than vesicular glutamate transporter 2-positive neurons.Furthermore,ablation of mPOA Vgat+ neurons resulted in altered spectral features and syllable usage of USVs in targeted males.Together,these results demonstrate that the mPOA plays a crucial role in modulating courtship USVs and this may serve as an entry point for future dissection of the neural circuitry underlying USV production.

Social interactivity in pigeon courtship behavior

A closed-loop teleprompter system was used to isolate and manipulate social interactivity in thenatural courtship interactions of pigeons Columbia livia. In Experiment 1, a live face-to-face real-time interaction between 2 courting pigeons （Live） was compared to a played back version of thevideo stimulus recorded during the pairs Live interaction. We found that pigeons were behavinginteractively; their behavior depended on the relationships between their own signals and those oftheir partner. In Experiment 2, we tested whether social interactivity relies on spatial cues presentin the facing direction of a partner＇s display. By moving the teleprompter camera 90~ away from itsoriginal location, the partner＇s display was manipulated to appear as if it is directed 90~ away fromthe subject. We found no effect of spatial offset on the pigeon＇s behavioral response. In Experiment3, 3 time delays, 1 s, 3s, and 9s, a Live condition, and a playback condition were chosen to investi-gate the importance of temporal contiguity in social interactivity. Furthermore, both opposite-sex（courtship） and same-sex （rivalry） pairs were studied to investigate whether social-context affectssocial interactivity sensitivity. Our results showed that pigeon courtship behavior is sensitive totemporal contiguity. Behavior declined in the 9 s and Playback conditions as compared to Live con-dition and the shorter time delays. For males only, courtship behavior also increased in the 3-sdelay condition. The effect of social interactivity and time delay was not observed in rivalry inter-actions, suggesting that social interactivity may be specific to courtship.

Familiarity with a female does not affect a male＇s courtship intensity in garter snakes Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis

Abstract In many animal species, males direct more intense courtship towards females they have not previously encountered, than towards females with which they have previously mated. To test the factors responsible for this ＂Coolidge Effect＂, we need studies on a wide range of taxa - including those with mating systems in which we would not expect （based on current theory） that such an effect would be evident. The Coolidge Effect has been documented in several lizard species, but has not been looked for （and would not be expected） in snakes. We conducted experimental trials with red-sided garter snakes Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis at a communal den in Manitoba, to see whether previous exposure to a female （either courting, or courting plus mating） modified male mate choice or courtship intensity. In keeping with prediction from theory （but contrary to an early anecdotal report）, male garter snakes did not modify their courtship behaviour based upon their familiarity （or lack thereof） with a specific female. At least in large courting aggregations, male snakes may maximize their fitness by basing mate-choice upon immediate attributes of the female （body size, condition, mated status） and the intensity of competition （numbers and sizes of rival males） rather than information derived from previous sexual encounters .

The best of both worlds:cicada males change costly signals to achieve mates while females choose a mate based on both calling and courtship songs

Cicadas usually sing and mate in the higher parts of trees.Studies addressing the effects of different acoustic signals on mate choice in Cicadidae are very limited.We investigated the effects of both acoustical features and morphological traits on mate choice in an East Asian cicada Platypleura kaempferi.Males produce high-rate calling songs that attract females,then produce low-rate courtship songs to secure mating when a female is attracted.Higher calling song rate(CR),shorter single-pulse duration,and shorter pulse period of the calling song,together with lower courtship song rate and longer echeme period of the courtship song,are the most desirable traits used by females to choose a mate.These traits indicate that the more amale can raise the rate of song production,the higher the probability he is sexually selected by the female.No correlation was found between morphological traits and mating success.After mating,a minority of males started emitting calling songs again,but the CR was significantly lower than before mating and none of them attracted a new mate later.This promotes females mating with unmated males.We hypothesize that P.kaempferi may have the best of both worlds due to the unique song modulation and the mechanism of female mate choice:males change energetically,costly acoustic signals to achieve mates,while females choose a mate based on males’acoustic properties.Our results contribute to better understanding the diversity of mating preference and enrich the mechanism of mate choice in acoustic insects.

Divergence and correlated evolution of male wing spot and courtship display between Drosophila nepalensis and D.trilutea

Male-specific wing spots are usually associated with wing displays in the courtship behavior of Drosophila and may play important roles in sexual selection.Two closely related species,D.nepalensis and D.trilutea,differ in wing spots and scissoring behavior.Here,we compare male morphological characters,pigmentation intensity of male wing spots,wing-scissoring behavior,courtship songs,and reproductive isolation between 2 species.F1 fertile females and sterile males result from the cross between females of D.nepalensis and males of D.trilutea.The pigmentation of wing spots is significantly weaker in D.trilutea than in D.nepalensis and the F1 hybrid.Males scissor both wings in front of the female during courtship,with a posture spreading wings more widely,and at a faster frequency in D.nepalensis than in D.trilutea and the F1s.Males of D.trilutea vibrate wings to produce 2 types(A and B)of pulse songs,whereas D.nepalensis and the F1s sing only type B songs.The incidence of wing vibration and scissoring during courtship suggests that wing vibration is essential but scissoring is a facultative courtship element for successful mating in both species.The association between the darker wing spots with more elaborate scissoring might be the consequence of correlated evolution of these traits in D.nepalensis;however,D.trilutea retains wing scissoring during courtship despite having weaker pigmentation of wing spots.The genetic architecture of 2 traits differs in the F1s,consistent with maternal or sex-linked effects for spots but nonadditive effects for scissoring.

韭菜迟眼蕈蚊成虫行为活动昼夜节律

【目的】本研究旨在明确韭菜迟眼蕈蚊Bradysia cellarum成虫行为活动的昼夜节律,为其室内饲养、行为学研究和研发精准、高效的监测与防控新技术提供依据。【方法】室内系统观察记录了韭菜迟眼蕈蚊成虫羽化盛期求偶、交配、产卵、移动与静息等行为的昼夜节律,分析了其特定行为的时间分配特征。【结果】韭菜迟眼蕈蚊成虫的运动行为和静息行为白天和黑夜均有发生,夜间的繁殖行为(求偶、交配和产卵)频次高于白天的,各时间点的移动、静息和繁殖行为频次占比间均具有显著性差异。韭菜迟眼蕈蚊雌雄成虫的求偶节律相同,一天中求偶有两次高峰,分别出现在3:00和7:00。韭菜迟眼蕈蚊雌雄成虫的交配节律与雌成虫的产卵节律相似,雄成虫移动行为频次占比的峰值时刻均出现在3:00时,雌成虫移动行为频次占比的峰值时刻则出现在19:00时。雌雄成虫静息行为的频次占比均无明显昼夜节律高峰。在日时间分配上,雌、雄成虫以静息行为的时间占比最多,分别为89.53%和89.90%;求偶行为的时间占比最少,分别为0.56%和0.89%。雌雄成虫各行为的日时间占比差异不显著。【结论】韭菜迟眼蕈蚊成虫的求偶、交配、产卵、移动和静息行为具有明显的昼夜节律,且不同行为的发生频率和活动峰值的时间点有所差异。

Light intensity regulates the sexual behaviors of oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis under laboratory conditions

The oriental fruit fly,Bactrocera dorsalis(Hendel),is a devastating pest of citrus fruits.After successful mating,adult females insert their eggs into the ripened fruit,resulting in moldy and rotten fruit and causing great economic losses for the citrus industry.In the field,flies initiate copulatory behaviors as twilight approaches,and decreasing light intensity in this period is the normal stimulus for copulation.In this study,ten light intensities ranging from 0–30000 lux were set to identify the typical intensity that strongly regulates the copulation behavior of B.dorsalis.Three light intensities found to regulate the copulation behavior were then selected to verify their effects on adult male wing fanning and female chemotaxis towards 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine(TMP).At last,strong light and complete darkness were artificially combined in the lab to verify whether they could prevent copulation to inform behavioral manipulation of oriental flies in the future.The results indicated that adult flies generally initiated copulatory behaviors at low light intensity(<1000 lux).Stronger light significantly prevented copulation in proportion to intensity,with nearly no copulation events initiated when light intensity was above 20000 lux.Both male wing fanning and female chemotaxis towards TMP were attenuated as light intensity became stronger.However,at 10000 lux,males still fanned their wings to a certain extent while TMP completely lost its attractiveness to females.In the darkness,adults did not initiate any sexual behaviors,e.g.,copulation,wing fanning,or chemotaxis to TMP.One hour of strong light(10000 lux)combined with continuous darkness completely prevented mating.These results show that light condition is an essential factor for copulatory behaviors in the oriental fruit fly.Researchers could thus manipulate light conditions artificially or disrupt the molecular target in flies’light transduction pathway to develop environmentally-friendly techniques to control this pest.

黄翅绢丝野螟求偶及交配的行为节律

【目的】探明黄翅绢丝野螟Glyphodes caesalis的求偶及交配行为节律,为该虫性信息素提取鉴定、两性通讯机制和群集诱杀技术研究提供理论基础。【方法】统计黄翅绢丝野螟的雌、雄蛹性比,测定成虫在光期和暗期的羽化率,观察其求偶和交配行为;利用等比配对试验测定寄主(菠萝蜜)、成虫日龄和暗期时段对交配率、交配时长和交配次数的影响。【结果】黄翅绢丝野螟雌、雄蛹平均性比为1.06∶1,雌蛹占比显著大于雄蛹占比。黄翅绢丝野螟成虫羽化高峰期集中于光暗转换期的前、后2 h,交配仅发生于暗期,寄主(菠萝蜜)的存在对该虫交配有促进作用,有果组交配率为93.33%±2.89%,显著高于无果组(71.67%±14.43%);有果组和无果组交配日龄分别为3-5日龄和3-7日龄;有果组3日龄成虫的交配率为53.33%±11.55%,显著高于无果组(31.67%±5.77%),两组交配率随日龄增加逐渐降低。有果组交配时段主要集中在进入暗期的0-2 h,其中暗期0-0.5 h为交配高峰期,较无果组提前,交配率为36.67%±17.56%;无果组交配时段主要集中在暗期的0-3.5 h,其中暗期1.0-1.5 h为交配高峰期,交配率为16.67%±11.55%。黄翅绢丝野螟雌成虫最多交配2次,雄成虫最多交配4次,但雌、雄成虫的交配比例随交配次数增加而递减;首次交配时间越早其多次交配概率越高,首次交配发生于3日龄的雌、雄成虫分别可进行2次和4次交配,首次交配发生于5日龄后的雌、雄成虫均无多次交配行为。【结论】黄翅绢丝野螟可进行多次交配,寄主菠萝蜜对其交配有促进作用,该虫交配行为具节律性,仅在暗期发生交配,交配高峰期为3-4日龄、大多发生在暗期的0-2 h内。

黄杨斑蛾田猎姬蜂(膜翅目:姬蜂科)个体发育与生殖行为

[目的]黄杨斑蛾田猎姬蜂是园林主要害虫大叶黄杨斑蛾预蛹和蛹期的专性外寄生蜂,寄生率高,控害效果突出。为充分发挥该蜂的生物防治潜能,填补国内外有关该蜂个体发育特征及生殖特性的空白从而开展本研究。[方法]以河南新纪录种黄杨斑蛾田猎姬蜂为对象,通过野外采集,结合室内恒温饲养和观察,对其个体发育过程、生殖系统构造及生殖行为进行系统研究。[结果]该蜂完成胚胎发育需48~50 h,幼虫有4个虫龄,预蛹和蛹期经历形态剧烈变化和色素的沉积,成虫具明显的性二型现象,一个世代历经23~27 d。雌蜂卵巢管9~11根,属多滋式,雄蜂1对精巢融合,输精管细长。雄蜂通过扇翅和触角拍打进行求偶,由雄蜂主导交配行为,雄蜂可交配多次,而雌蜂一生只交配1次,该蜂日产卵量可达7粒,一生可产20粒卵,存在过寄生行为。[结论]黄杨斑蛾田猎姬蜂为大卵型、卵育型外寄生蜂,寄生能力较强,具有保护和利用价值。这些基本生物学特性研究可为更好地保护和发挥黄杨斑蛾田猎姬蜂对大叶黄杨斑蛾的控害潜能奠定基础。

莎士比亚与英语词汇(19)

该词的意思是“彬彬有礼，奉承，讨好；(尤指男子向女子)求爱，调情，对漂亮的妇女献殷勤求婚，求爱行为”。英语的释义是courtly behavior；the act of paying court or wooing。

金乌贼繁殖行为与交配策略

2014年6月于室内大型水槽使用摄像系统对金乌贼繁殖过程进行连续观察与记录,通过定性和定量比较分析,解析其繁殖过程中游泳、捕食、求偶、争斗、交配及产卵等行为特征。结果显示:金乌贼游泳主要依靠漏斗喷水的反作用力,持续游泳能力较弱;繁殖期的金乌贼继续摄食,能发现周围20—38 cm范围内的凡纳滨对虾,攻击距离为7—24 cm,能在2.1—6.1 s内完成对对虾的捕获且成功率极高,外源营养为卵(精)巢不同步发育、分批产卵和复杂的繁殖行为继续提供能量支持;金乌贼具明显的求偶行为,规格差异是影响求偶的重要因素,其中雄性亲本更倾向选择与自身规格相当或略小的雌性,而雌性亲本则更倾向于选择大规格(较大规格争斗易获胜)的雄性;金乌贼一次交配持续125—398 s,雄性有明显的精子移除行为和领域性,交配后雄性伴游在雌性周围3—24 cm范围内,不允许其他乌贼靠近,平均伴游61 min后会再次交配。精子移除、伴游以及多次交配是雄性金乌贼有效提高父权贡献率的关键行为基础;研究结果表明,金乌贼采取"多夫多妻"的混交婚配策略,两性亲本均存在多次交配现象,这能有效提高雌雄的生殖成功率和受精卵的遗传多样性。

叉尾斗鱼繁殖行为的观察

采用室内研究法对叉尾斗鱼（Macropodus opercularis）的繁殖行为进行了观察，结果表明，叉尾斗鱼分批产卵。雌雄鱼交配于21：35-21：55时开始，00：44～1：56时结束，整个过程持续约3～4h，交配20～37次（Mean=28．83，n=6），时间跨度从8．9-18．6s（11．31±2．61，n=141）；只交配但雌鱼未产卵的伪交配4～6次（Mean=5．17，n=6），时间跨度从6．2～15．5S（10．27±2．51S，n=27）；只完成交配第一步的伪交配36～117次（Mean=76．83，n=6），时间跨度1．4～15．0S（5．69±2．31s，n=440）。生殖期产卵8～9批，每批卯62～1316粒（Mean=793．36，n=11）；孵卵、护幼由雄性担当。卯从产出到孵化成鱼苗离开泡巢历时约4d。野生叉尾斗鱼6～9月繁殖，产卵期水温22．4～33．5℃，溶解氧量1．1～4．2mg／L，pH值6．0～7．0。

拟目乌贼繁殖行为学的初步研究

拟目乌贼在繁殖期间的行为较为复杂,包括求偶、雄性争斗、交配、雄性陪护、产卵等行为。拟目乌贼在生殖策略上并非"一夫一妻"制,交配时,雄性用第1、2对腕固定雌性的头部,然后用茎化腕将精荚输送至雌性纳精囊内。雌性受精后不久便产卵,拟目乌贼雌性轮流在产卵区产卵。卵白色,半透明,卵群葡萄状,分枝,刚产出的卵短径约1.2cm,长径约2.4cm,拟目乌贼平均产卵量为354枚。