No Evidence for Significant Effect of Body Size and Age on Male Mating Success in the Spot-legged Treefrog

In anurans, body size and age of individuals generally affect male mating success. To test whether body size and age have effects on male mating success in the foam-nesting treefrog Polypedates megacephalus, a species widely distributed in China, we analyzed differences in body size and age between mated and unmated males for three populations using a Generalized Linear Mixed Model（GLMM）. The results showed that mated males did not exhibit larger body size and older age than unmated males, suggesting that large and/or old male individuals did not have greater mating success than small and/or young males. Moreover, we also found a non-significant size-assortative mating pattern for all populations. Our findings suggest that body size and age of the foam-nesting treefrog do not affect male mating success.

Aggregation and mating success of Capnodis tenebrionis （Coleoptera： Buprestidae）

An understanding of the relative importance of extrinsic and intrinsic factors in determining the potential distribution and mating success of individuals is critical for the successful monitoring and management of pest species. Using a combination of field observations and a caged field experiment, we explored the roles of environmental and individual variation on the formation of mating aggregations and mating success in the buprestid beetle Capnodis tenebrionis （Linnaeus, 1767）, a pest species of stone fruit trees. Our field observations revealed that the formation of aggregations is influenced by a range of environmental factors including temperature, photoperiod, and population density. However, aggregations were not at random and were more likely to occur on the section of the plant with highest incidence of solar radiation and thus higher temperatures. Data from our experiment with caged beetles in the field further indicate that the reproductive behavior of this species varies with temperature. The probability of a successful mating occurring was also positively related to both male and female size. Females of C. tenebrionis mate several times over a 4-h period, but generally not with the same male. Information obtained from these studies is useful to define the most appropriate time for pest control, especially adopting strategies that interfere with reproduction.

Increased serotonin concentration and tryptophan hydroxylase activity in reproductive organs of copulator males:a case of adaptive plasticity

Individual male rats may systematically display or not copulatory behavior when paired with receptive females. Although these phenotypes are associated with differences in brain organization and function, they might also do so at the level of the reproductive organs. We then used high performance liquid chromatography to quantify serotonin concentration and the activity of tryptophan hydroxylase in the reproductive organs of copulator and non-copulator males. Sexual behavior display was compared between groups and parameters of fertility and reproductive fitness were determined for copulator males. Copulator males had higher concentrations of serotonin in the epididymis, testicle and ventral prostate than their non-copulator counterparts, as it was found for epididymal and testicular tryptophan hydroxylase activity. However, preliminary data shows that serotonin elevation occurs in copulator males only until they have accumulated several sexual encounters, so it might be a response to genital gratification or sexual rewarding. Interestingly, only epididymal serotonin concentration correlated with reproductive fitness, offspring number, mating success and seminal plug volume in copulator males. Our results support that copulator and non-copulator male rats feature a phenotype-specific serotoninergic tone in the epididymis, testicle and ventral prostate gland. The observation documenting that epididymal serotonin concentration correlated with parameters that monitor male fertility and reproductive fitness in copulator males predicts that epididymal factors increase their chances of parenting offspring.

Inter-sexual multimodal communication during mating in wild geladas:the leading role of females

Female primates can emit vocalizations associated with mating that can function as honest signals of fertility.Here,we investigated the role of mating calls and visual signals in female geladas(Theropithecus gelada).Because females have a central role in the gelada society and seem to solicit sexual interactions,we answered whether they emit vocalizations in conjunction with gazing to increase mating success probability.Before and during copulations,females can emit pre-copulation calls and copulation calls.For the first time,we identified a new female vocalization emitted at the final stage of copulations(end-copulation call),possibly marking the occurrence of ejaculation.We found that longer pre-copulation call sequences were followed by both prolonged copulations and the presence of end-copulation calls,thus suggesting that females use pre-copulation calls to ensure successful copula completion.Moreover,we found that different combinations of female vocal types and gazing had different effects on male vocal behavior and motivation to complete the copula.The analysis of the vocal and visual signals revealed a complex inter-sexual multimodal chattering with the leading role of females in the signal exchange.Such chattering,led by females,modulates male sexual arousal,thus increasing the probability of the copula success.

Singing on the wings! Male wing fanning performances affect female willingness to copulate in the aphid parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes （Hymenoptera： Braconidae： Aphidiinae）

Lysiphlebus testaceipes （Hymenoptera： Braconidae： Aphidiinae） is a generalist endoparasitoid attacking more than 100 aphid species. In L. testaceipes, wing fanning is a main male courtship display evoked by a female-borne sex pheromone. However, no information is available on the characteristics and behavioral role of male fanning during courtship in this parasitoid. Here, the courtship behavior of a wild strain ofL. testaceipes was quantified and the male wing fanning performances were analyzed through high-speed video recordings and examined in relation to mating success. Courtship sequence of wild L. testaceipes did not substantially differ from that previously reported for other populations mass reared on aphids. We observed that the male courtship duration did not affect mating success. However, video analysis revealed that the males producing high-frequency fanning signals achieved higher mating success over those that display low-frequency fanning. Wing fanning before successful and unsuccessful courtship differed in amplitude of wing movements and alignment toward the mate, highlighting that frontal courtship positively influence the female mating decisions. This study increases knowledge on sexual behavior in a key parasitoid of aphids, highlighting the importance of wing fanning among the range of sensory modalities used in the sexual communication ofL. testaceipes. From a practical point of view, this information is useful in L. testaceipes-based biocontrol strategies, since it can help to establish parameters for quality checking of mass-reared wasps over time.

Females prefer males producing a high-rate song with shorter timbal-stridulatory sound intervals in a cicada species

Uncovering mate choice and factors that lead to the choice are very important to understanding sexual selection in evolutionary change.Cicadas are known for their loud sounds produced by males using the timbals.However,males in certain cicada species emit 2 kinds of sounds using respectively timbals and stridulatory organs,and females may produce their own sounds to respond to males.What has never been considered is the mate choice in such cicada species.Here,we investigate the sexual selection and potential impact of predation pressure on mate choice in the cicada Subpsaltria yangi Chen.It possesses stridulatory sound-producing organs in both sexes in addition to the timbals in males.Results show that males producing calling songs with shorter timbal–stridulatory sound intervals and a higher call rate achieved greater mating success.No morphological traits were found to be correlated with mating success in both sexes,suggesting neither males nor females display mate preference for the opposite sex based on morphological traits.Males do not discriminate among responding females during mate searching,which may be due to the high energy costs associated with their unusual mate-seeking activity and the male-biased predation pressure.Females generally mate once but a minority of them re-mated after oviposition which,combined with the desirable acoustic traits of males,suggest females may maximize their reproductive success by choosing a high-quality male in the first place.This study contributes to our understanding mechanisms of sexual selection in cicadas and other insects suffering selective pressure from predators.