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In communication systems, the signal and preference for the signal have to match, limiting phenotypic variation. Yet, communication systems evolve, but the mechanisms of how phenotypic variation can come into existence while not disrupting the match are poorly understood. Geographic variation in communication can provide insights into the diversification of these systems. Females of the katydid Neoconocephalus triops use the pulse rate and call structure for call recognition. Using behavioral experiments, we determined preferences for pulse rate at two relevant ambient temperatures and preferences for call structure (continuous, versed) in females from Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. Puerto Rican females had closed preference at both tested temperatures, indicating high selectivity for pulse rate. In contrast, Costa Rican females had a closed preference only at 20 °C; at 25 °C the females were unselective toward higher than natural pulse rates. Additionally, Puerto Rican females were not selective for call structure, whereas Costa Rican females preferred versed calls. It is not clear whether the differences in pulse preference were due to neural constraints or different selective pressures, however, they may facilitate further divergence and reproductive isolation. Importantly, the reduced selectivity for call structure or pulse rate allows calls to display the necessary variation for the communication system to evolve.
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Phenotypic plasticity of male calls in two populations of the katydid Neoconocephalus triops (Insecta: Tettigoniidae)
The ability to respond to environmental changes plays a crucial role for coping with environmental stressors related to climate change. Substantial changes in environmental conditions can overcome developmental homeostasis, exposing cryptic genetic variation. The katydidNeoconocephalus triopsis a tropical species that extended its range to the more seasonal environment of North America where it has two reproductive generations per year. The harsher winter conditions required adults to diapause which resulted in substantially different mating calls of the diapausing winter animals compared to the non-overwintering summer animals in northern Florida. The summer call corresponds to that of tropical populations, whereas the winter call represents the alternative call phenotype. We quantified call plasticity in a tropical (Puerto Rico) and a temperate population ofN. triops(Florida) that differ in experiencing winter conditions in their geographic regions. We hypothesized that the plastic call traits, i.e., double-pulse rate and call structure, are regulated independently. Further, we hypothesized that phenotypic plasticity of double-pulse rate results in quantitative changes, whereas that of call structure in qualitative changes. We varied the photoperiod and duration of diapause during male juvenile and adult development during rearing and analyzed the double-pulse rate and call structure of the animals. Double-pulse rate changed in a quantitative fashion in both populations and significant changes appeared at different developmental points, i.e., the double-pulse rate slowed down during juvenile development in Florida, whereas during adult diapause in Puerto Rico. In the Florida population, both the number of males producing and the proportion of total call time covered by the alternative call structure (= continuous calls) increased with duration spent in diapause. In the Puerto Rico population, expression of the alternative call structure was extremely rare. Our results suggest that the expression of both pulse rate and call structure was quantitative and not categorical. Our systematic variation of environmental variables demonstrated a wide range of phenotypic variation that can be induced during development. Our study highlights the evolutionary potential of hidden genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity when confronted with rapidly changing environments and their potential role in providing variation necessary for communication systems to evolve.
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- PAR ID:
- 10493437
- Editor(s):
- David A. Gray
- Publisher / Repository:
- Frontiers
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
- Edition / Version:
- NA
- Volume:
- 11
- Issue:
- AN
- ISSN:
- 2296-701X
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- NA
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- homeostasis, signal evolution, communication, diapause, development
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: 2 Other: pdf
- Size(s):
- 2
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1216463
