Journal ArticleThe direction and strength of social plasticity in mating signals and mate preferences vary with the life stage of inductionDesjonquères, Camille; Rodríguez, Rafael L.Socially induced plasticity in mating signals and mate preferences is widespread in animals. The timing of plasticity induction is key for mating and evolutionary consequences: plasticity induced before and after dispersal often results in different patterns of mate choices. Here we discuss two additional factors that may be of importance: the nature of social interactions that are involved at different stages, and the direction and strength of the effects. We review a case study with the Enchenopa binotata species complex of treehoppers. In spite of a wide scope for social plasticity in E. binotata across life stages, effects of the juvenile social environment were stronger and more common, especially those influencing the signalepreference relationship. These results emphasize the importance of studying variation in plasticity induced along various life stages and of considering all the mating traits that may be socially plastic. We suggest that systematic investigation of these patterns across taxa will help better understand the origin of diversity in animal communication systems.Elsevier2023-06-0110507566Animal Behaviour200C255 to 2610003-3472https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2023.03.0081855962behavioural plasticity, life stage, mating signal evolution, preference function, signal ontogenyNational Science Foundation