Evolution
Attracting
a mate can be a risky business. It often relies on tactics high in
energy and time investment, such as loud calls or displays, and some
males just can't compete. In these cases, it can be expected that these
males may "cheat" their way to mating.
A good example of these
strategies is in European treefrogs. While many males use the classic
tactic of making attractive calls, others cheat
and exploit others' high energy investment by lurking nearby. The
"cheating" males are saving their own energy and hoping to capitalise on
another male's calls. To investigate whether the decision to use a
certain tactic depended on food availability or body size, French
researchers took 100 different-sized treefrogs and fed one group while
starving the other.
A week later, these frogs were let loose
into a makeshift pond and attractive and unattractive calls were played
to them. Their response (either making calls, doing nothing or remaining
near the sound). Researchers noted that while there was no connection
between food availability and tactics, smaller males were much more
likely to try and cheat their way to a mate. Males were also more likely
to act as satellites (e.g. lurking nearby) when faced with an
attractive competitor than an unattractive one, thereby improving their
own chances of mating. Who said cheats never prosper?
Photo: Reuters.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/
http://www.naturenplanet.com/
Attracting
a mate can be a risky business. It often relies on tactics high in
energy and time investment, such as loud calls or displays, and some
males just can't compete. In these cases, it can be expected that these
males may "cheat" their way to mating.
A good example of these strategies is in European treefrogs. While many males use the classic tactic of making attractive calls, others cheat
A good example of these strategies is in European treefrogs. While many males use the classic tactic of making attractive calls, others cheat
and exploit others' high energy investment by lurking nearby. The
"cheating" males are saving their own energy and hoping to capitalise on
another male's calls. To investigate whether the decision to use a
certain tactic depended on food availability or body size, French
researchers took 100 different-sized treefrogs and fed one group while
starving the other.
A week later, these frogs were let loose into a makeshift pond and attractive and unattractive calls were played to them. Their response (either making calls, doing nothing or remaining near the sound). Researchers noted that while there was no connection between food availability and tactics, smaller males were much more likely to try and cheat their way to a mate. Males were also more likely to act as satellites (e.g. lurking nearby) when faced with an attractive competitor than an unattractive one, thereby improving their own chances of mating. Who said cheats never prosper?
Photo: Reuters.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/
http://www.naturenplanet.com/
A week later, these frogs were let loose into a makeshift pond and attractive and unattractive calls were played to them. Their response (either making calls, doing nothing or remaining near the sound). Researchers noted that while there was no connection between food availability and tactics, smaller males were much more likely to try and cheat their way to a mate. Males were also more likely to act as satellites (e.g. lurking nearby) when faced with an attractive competitor than an unattractive one, thereby improving their own chances of mating. Who said cheats never prosper?
Photo: Reuters.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/
http://www.naturenplanet.com/
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