ISSN 2372-2517 (Online), ISSN 2372-2479 (Print) METALEPTEAMETALEPTEA THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ORTHOPTERISTS’ SOCIETY
* Table of Contents is now clickable, which will President’s Message take you to a desired page. By MICHAEL SAMWAYS President [1] PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE [email protected] [2] SOCIETY NEWS [2] The 2015 Theodore J. Cohn he Orthopterists’ Society Research Grants Funded by MICHEL is in a very vibrant LECOQ th phase of activity with [3] Announcing the 12 the dissemination of MARCOS LHANO several grants from the [4] The European Red List of Orthop- TT Ted Cohn Research tera by BAUDEWIJN ODÉ, ANA NIETO & Fund to support various student AXEL HOCHKIRCH [5] projects across the world (see the report by Michel Lecoq in this issue). pygmy grasshoppers by JOSIP SKEJO This really does emphasize the value [6] REGIONAL REPORTS spatial shifting according to hot and of being a member of the Society [6] Southern Africa by CORINNA S. sunny conditions or cool and overcast where networking and opportunities BAZELET ones. [7] Western Europe by FERNANDO are available to young orthopterists The range of orthopteran species MONTEALEGRE-Z. wherever they are. Also, with the In- making up a local assemblage in any [8] T.J. COHN GRANT REPORTS ternational Congress of Orthopterol- [8] - ogy in Brazil in 2016, there is further bio-indicators. Highly mobile spe- opportunity to network. cies may rapidly move away from One of the great opportunities that an anthropogenic impact, such as the a whole range of orthopteran species [10] planting of exotic trees. In contrast, offer is that not only are they among highly endemic local species may not the most interesting organisms on the be able to move in this way, and may [11] planet, but they can also serve well as be locally extirpated. This differential - indicators of changing landscapes in response means that we can mea- this current era of the Anthropocene... CHEN sure the changes in the environment [13] using a range of orthopteran species species, the settled and industrialized traits and responses and then manage human, is changing the world in a the landscape accordingly. We can meteoric way. SLATYER then test whether our management Orthoptera species are excellent bio- [14] CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE has been successful by investigat- indicators of a changing environment, [14] ing which species have re-colonized for better or worse. One of the reasons after an environmentally acceptable South Africa by AILEEN THOMPSON for this is that they are sensitive at the landscape management program has [16] Type diversity of Pyrgomorphidae local spatial scale, and readily seek by RICARDO MARIÑO-PÉREZ been put in place. In short, Orthoptera out ideal conditions for their survival [22] Re-discovery of a species thought of all sorts give us an opportunity for and that of their offspring. Nymphs - may even be in one habitat and adults able way. WOLLER & JOVONN G. HILL in another. Sometimes, adults even [23] EDITORIAL ideal immediate environment, such as Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 1 METALEPTEA The 2015 Theodore J. Cohn Research Grants Funded By MICHEL LECOQ Chair, Theodore J. Cohn Research Fund Committee [email protected]
e received a num- was reached fairly quickly and it was (Ger- ber of research decided to fund 11 proposals. The fol- - proposals this year lowing grants (in alphabetical order) Ariagona Krauss, for the Theodore were made in amounts from USD J. Cohn Research $500 to $1,500 (for a total of USD WW Grants call that has $14,599): never been achieved in the past. A niche modelling of the grasshopper total of 28 projects were submitted to Katherine Crocker - genus the Committee, issued from 17 coun- er parents are helping: Is variable tries: Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Josip Skejo - Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic (2), Germany (3), India, Netherlands (2), Lara-Sophie Dey - Psophus Fieber, 1853 (Oedipodinae: Mexico, New Zealand (3), Singapore, South Africa, Spain (2), Uruguay, and winged grasshopper genera - - the U.S.A. (5). If it was still needed, mena Saussure 1884 and this is further evidence of the con- Bolivar 1899. Cyphoderris tinuing interest in our Society and in - monstrosa - our grants in support of students and nal investment threshold for male young scientists. decorated cricket calling based on As you know, this year, thanks to a Our congratulations to all the suc- large donation from the estate of our cessful applicants, and on behalf of late colleague Theodore J. Cohn, it the Committee, our best wishes for was possible to increase the amount the full success of their work. Of of each grant to a maximum of USD course, all our readers will anxiously 1,500 for an annual total of USD mediated knockdown of neuropep- wait for their report in our newsletter. 15,000. . We are sorry not to have enough mon- Among the proposals received, ey to fund all the excellent projects the proposed topics are diverse and we received. For candidates who were concern taxonomy as well as ecology, not selected, the Committee thanks physiology, behavior, and phylo- them all for their efforts of presenta- geography, and involve very diverse tion and formulation of their research groups of Orthoptera s.l. As usual, it history of the genus projects. All the projects were greatly was a hard, but exciting, task for the Barat 2012. appreciated by the Committee and I jury (David Hunter, Battal Ciplak, Matan Shelomi - invite them to submit further propos- and myself) to analyze and classify - als at the next call in early 2016. the various proposals. A consensus
Platycleis intermedia widespread species in the Mediterranean southern France as human impact has and into Asia. The young stages are toler- increased in intensity and extensiveness. ant of some farming and can develop - Michael Samways mature, they move into bushes in the surrounding area. However, the species - genic change to the landscape and has
Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 2 METALEPTEA The 12th International Congress of Orthopterology Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil, October 30 to November 3, 2016 ORTHOPTERA IN A CHANGING WORLD ear friends, papers and discussion to ensure the By MARCOS LHANO high quality that we are used to seeing President, ICO 2016 [email protected] It is a great pleasure to in our OS Congresses. invite you to contribute Last February, Dr. Maria Marta to and attend the 12th Cigliano (as a member of the OS Con- DD International Congress - of Orthopterology. The Congress will be held in the city of Ilhéus, Bahia, some perspectives for the Congress, Brazil, from October 30 to November including some of the topics men- 3, 2016. tioned below. I would like to thank to Ilhéus was founded in 1534 and is all the OS Committee members for located in the Northern coastal region their suggestions and support. of Brazil, about 220 km south of Sal- The venue for the event will be in The Congress will also include the vador, the capital of the state of Bahia. a hotel located in front of the beach, following activities: Today it is one of the most important close to the suburbs of Ilhéus and Opening Ceremony tourism centers of northeastern Bra- 5 minutes by car (2 km) from the Posters sessions zil, due to its beautiful beaches and airport. It is a small hotel with beau- Workshops cultural heritage. Ilhéus has approxi- tiful gardens, swimming pool and Information Sessions mately 222,000 inhabitants, with an restaurants, which can be used to Oral Presentations area of 1850 km2, and its downtown is accommodate all the attendants. We Special Meetings located on the seaside of the Atlantic are currently discussing the prices for Awards Ocean. Ilhéus is also well known as the rooms (including breakfast, four We will have a new activity during the hometown of Jorge Amado, one lunches and two dinners - without the Congress “Information Sessions” of the most popular Brazilian writers beverages), so once we have reached consisting of short courses through (some of his novels: “Gabriela, Clove which the attendants will have the and Cinnamon” and “Dona Flor and the name of the venue hotel. We have opportunity to discuss and learn about her two husbands”). Also, the city hired an event management company: used to have the major cocoa planta- GT5 Group, which has the expertise and statistical techniques for data tions in Brazil, and nowadays tourists and ample experience in organizing registration and analyses. can enjoy the chocolate produced in congresses and meetings in Brazil. I am glad to announce an “Open the city. During the months of Octo- Please bookmark the deadline for Call” for those interested in proposing ber and November (dry season), the abstract submission in your agenda: and organizing a Plenary Symposium temperature is around 28oC. I invite July 31, 2016. and Information Sessions. This call everyone to visit http://en.wikipedia. presentations of regular submitted pa- will be open until July 31, 2015. org/wiki/Ilhéus and read more about pers will be announced in the website. As social events, we will have a the city. - welcome cocktail, the traditional Gala We’re working on releasing the patch and group the abstracts accord- Dinner and the “Nations’ Party” (a complete information about the ing to the different symposium topics, tradition that began in China), where Congress soon, which will be dis- and will select those abstracts which the attendants will be asked to bring played on the Congress website. It is will be presented as oral presenta- some traditional costume/hat/shirt, a challenge to keep up with the high tions and those as posters. We will etc. for this night and will be invited - invite prominent and distinguished to sing a song from their country. mosphere experienced on the previous orthopterists to present their experi- Daily tours will be offered to some Congresses, but we will try our best ence and the results of their latest nice touristic places in the region for to do it. We hope that the program and research during the Plenary Lectures accompanying members. Besides, - and Symposia. one-day tour to Itacaré (a beautiful tion and that you will contribute your Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 3 METALEPTEA beach close to Ilhéus) for all the at- ing permits in Brazil. The ICO 2016 Government: the Ministry of the En- tendants will be also organized. organization is not able to make any vironment’s (MMA) and the Ministry Finally, the Post Conference Tour arrangement for collecting permits of Science and Technology (MCT). will consist of a trip to the amaz- for the whole group. If someone is Important dates for your agenda: ing Chapada Diamantina region and interested in collecting Orthoptera 12th International Congress of Salvador city. This is a very attractive material, there will be a plenty of Orthopterology: October 30 to tour that will soon be announced on stops and time to do so, however, November 3, 2016 the Congress website. It is important each scientist will be responsible for Deadline for abstract submission: to note that it will be mainly a tour- obtaining proper collecting permits July 31, 2016. istic and photographic tour since it and paperwork/export permits to carry As the President of the ICO 2016, I is not allowed to collect insects or the material outside Brazil (they are am delighted to cordially invite you to any other organisms without collect- different permits) from the Brazilian join us. The European Red List of Orthoptera GSG is to By BAUDEWIJN ODÉ conserve [email protected] orthopteroid ANA NIETO [email protected] insects and AXEL HOCHKIRCH their habitats [email protected] around the world. An Europe and the European Union), so important that appropriate conservation action component can be taken to improve their status. of conserva- The ERL has already assessed the tion is the status of nearly 10,000 European assessment species and currently the status of all of species Orthoptera species (grasshoppers and for the IUCN crickets) is being assessed, a total of approximately 1,100 species. Red List of - Threatened The European Red List of Orthop- SpeciesTM. tera is compiled by IUCN’s Global This greatly Species Programme and the experts IUCN SSC Grasshopper helps to of the Grasshoppers Specialist Group. communicate threats to policy mak- The project started in November and The IUCN Species Survival Commis- ers and the general public, and helps great progress has already been made sion Grasshopper Specialist Group to prioritize conservation measures. towards completing the Red List. A (GSG) is composed of 74 experts on The process of red-listing is very workshop was held in Vicenza, Italy grasshoppers, crickets, bush-crickets, useful as it adds to our knowledge of on 15-17 May to assess the status of mantids and stick insects from 30 - grasshopper species with an Italian- countries worldwide. The aim of the edge gaps. Moreover, several funding restricted distribution. The workshop, possibilities exist for research on or hosted by the Museum Naturalistico conservation actions for species that Archeologico of Vicenza, was at- are in the threatened categories of the tended by seven experts; a Red List IUCN Red List. Category was assigned to the species on the basis of information available and by reaching consensus. The European Red List (ERL) is Additional workshops will be held a review of the status of European throughout 2015 and beginning of species according to IUCN Regional 2016 to assess all the Orthoptera spe- cies and it is expected that in October those species that are threatened with 2016 the Red List assessments will be extinction at the European level (pan completed and a publication summa- Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 4 METALEPTEA rising the results will be produced. in participating in conservation of become a member of the GSG. Please Orthopterists that are interested orthopteroid insects are welcomed to contact Axel Hochkirch. SIGTET – Special Interest Group Tetrigidae – the fascinating world of pygmy grasshoppers
ygmy grasshoppers SIGTET website was not being used By JOSIP SKEJO (Tetrigidae) are the least continuously at the time, I decided Biology Students Association – BIUS Croatia studied family within the to make an address book containing [email protected] order Orthoptera. The contact information of every available family counts 9 sub- Tetrigidae researcher, and, with this P information, to make an exhaustive studying Tetrigidae and some con- P tributors that are helpful in our study mailing list for information exchange. and most of them are paraphyletic, After I made the group, Daniela San- and willing to collect material on their thus not evolutionary units, with 268 tos came to me with the idea to found expeditions. Also, we have collabora- genera and subgenera (of which 6 are a Facebook page for SIGTET as well. tions with Holger Braun and Piotr fossil and 262 extant) and 1,912 spe- The Facebook group is aimed at pro- Naskrecki, administrators of the Or- cies and subspecies (of which 9 are viding continuous discussions on Tet- thoptera Species File, so the valuable fossil and 1,903 extant). The members rigidae research, to initiate collabora- information and new literature data of the family are easily distinguished tions among researchers, material, and can be added and some errors can be from all other Orthoptera primarily by literature exchange, spend some good, corrected in the database. their prolonged pronotum that usually free time discussing, collecting and In the name of our little team, I covers the whole abdomen, and also scanning more and more literature on would like to call all the readers who by tarsal formula 2-2-3, lack of aro- pygmies, and also to examine Tetrigi- possess Tetrigidae photos, material lium between the claws, and absence dae photos from all around the globe and literature to contact us and to of tympana. (Facebook group: https://www.face- collaborate with us. More eyes are Since there are only a few research- book.com/groups/807063066036549). always better. We are not able to tell ers that deal with systematics of this The Facebook group was created you everything about Tetrigidae since fascinating group, Hendrik Devriese on April 3, 2015. At the same time, little is known, but we are able to initiated the establishment of the Spe- an exchange of literature and photos instruct you how to look and what to cial Interest Group Tetrigidae – SIG- started, we updated the Tetrigidae look for and we are always looking TET during the meeting of Deutsche researchers address book and it now forward to learning more together. Gesellschaft für Orthopterologie held contains in Bonn (Germany) from 15 to 16 informa- March 2008. The group aimed to put tion on 31 at the disposal of the orthopterists’ research- community all the resources concern- ers from ing the family: checklist of genera 19 coun- and species, distribution information, tries and 4 continents. photographs etc. and it also aimed Currently, to enhance contact and information we lack exchange between Tetrigidae ex- research- perts. (webpage: http://home.scarlet. ers in be/~ping0646/index.html). Africa and Since we are in the era of social Australia. network mass use and a lot of infor- In the mation of a lot of themes is being Facebook exchanged on these networks, such group as Facebook, Flickr, Gmail and its there are accompanying sites. Also, since the 16 of us
Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 5 METALEPTEA Regional Reports - What’s happening around the world? Southern Africa uploaded all data and Piotr’s By CORINNA S. BAZELET Stellenbosch University photographs South Africa into IUCN’s [email protected] Species Infor- n 2014, 129 species of South mation Service African katydids (Tettigoni- (SIS) software idae) had Red List assessments and completed published by the IUCN (www. all draft assess- iucnredlist.org). These spe- ments. Each I cies represent approximately draft assessment I was peer- three-quarters of the katydid species known to occur in South Africa (170 reviewed by species in total), and the full comple- Axel Hochkirch, ment of species which are currently Mark Bushell, capable of being assessed. Of the and/or Baudewi- - unsuitable species, eight are recog- jn Odé, found- nized new species which await formal ing members description and 33 are species whose of the IUCN’s tion is just not enough to estimate Grasshopper Specialist Group (GSG), their future trends. For example, the members of the problematic genera before being submitted to the IUCN enigmatic Cederberg Shieldback Ruspolia and Conocephalus, many of for publication. (Namaquadectes irroratus) has only which can be distinguished only on So how are South Africa’s katydids been encountered twice, in 1916 and the basis of their call, and are in need faring? Slightly over half (58% of as- 92 years later in 2008, despite many of taxonomic revision on the basis of sessed species) are of Least Concern collecting trips and hours spent at- this character. (LC) (Fig. 1). Many of these spe- tempting to track it down. Completion of the Red List as- cies are widely-distributed generalist Unfortunately, one-third of South sessments took approximately two herbivores which show no signs of Africa’s katydids are of conservation years and support from many people. decline. Some of these species, such concern, with 30% of species assessed First, Piotr Naskrecki and I met in as the Plangias (Plangia compressa as VU, EN, or CR. Among the six November, 2012 to write most of the and P. graminea) and the Armoured CR species is the world’s only known - Katydids (Acanthoplus spp.) are Cave Katydid (Cedarbergeniana ments. Then, using 810 geo-refer- even facultative crop pests arguably imperfecta; Fig. 2a). This species enced South African localities from in greater need of control than of persists in a small number of high Piotr’s MANTIS database, I calcu- elevation caves within the Cederberg lated coarse scale distribution ranges Wilderness Area in the Western Cape. for each species in ArcGIS 9.2, gener- (DD) because the available informa- The highly fragmented nature of the ously provided by the IUCN and ESRI. All threatened species (Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN), and Critically Endangered (CR) were assessed on the basis of their geographic range (Red List Criterion B) or as a result of hav- ing a very small and restricted population (Criterion D). I then Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 6 METALEPTEA populations and their current distribu- a small patch of remnant indigenous katydid fauna. Several student proj- tion at peak elevations is of great con- forest slated for cultivation to exotic ects are underway and publications cern. In the event of habitat destruc- plantation forestry in KwaZulu-Natal. are in preparation to analyse katydid tion or change in climatic conditions At present, it’s unknown whether this diversity patterns across South Africa within their caves, this species ap- species survives or not. and katydid utility for a rapid as- pears to have few options for survival. Completing the Red List assess- sessment technique (see e.g. Aileen Similarly, the Imperiled Grass False Thompson’s article in this issue). Shieldback (Paracilacris periclitatus; process to draw attention to South Fig. 2b) was only encountered once in Africa’s fascinating and threatened Western Europe meeting. The IBAC meeting will also Luxembourg and Switzerland, by attract the participation of labs from Sardet E., Roestli C. and Braud Y. By FERNANDO other countries in and out of Europe, This book will be released soon MONTEALEGRE-Z. focusing on a diversity of bioacoustics this year. University of Lincoln research in various groups of arthro- 3. The MNHN in Paris has pub- United Kingdom [email protected] pods and superior animals. lished an online guide for the his report contains infor- The German Society for from Northwest Africa, edited mation on main events, Orthopterology by Laure Desutter-Grandcolas. like international and The DGFO (German Society for Contributors to this publication local meetings, as well Orthopterology) holds a meeting ev- are Louveaux A., Amédégnato C., as a count of the main ery other year. The last meeting took and Poulain S. This guide con- outputs of research on TT place in Salzburg (Austria) in 2014, tains photos of all the species, in- orthopteroid insects during the current and the next one will be in the spring year. of 2016 in Trier (Germany). The families, genera and species, and DGFO is active and twice a year the distribution maps. It was origi- society publishes a magazine called nally published in French, and the The biennial meeting of the Interna- Articulata. The homepage of this soci- contributors are working on the tional Bioacoustics Council (IBAC) ety can be found in the following link English translation. The material will be held in Murnau, Germany http://www.dgfo-articulata.de/en/ can be accessed in the following th th from 7 -11 September 2015. This home.php link: http://lncn.eu/bhrv5 meeting usually covers a diversity of 4. The Journal of Comparative topics in bioacoustics from humans to Physiology published in January insects. Different topics are organized 2015 a special Issue with the title Orthoptera research Recent outputs on the various areas “Insect hearing – from physics Dr. Tony Robillard from the Muséum of research on orthopteroid insects to ecology”. This issue contains national d’Histoire naturelle (MNHN) coming from European labs are listed current research and reviews on in Paris is the chair of the sympo- below. Of course, there is a large auditory physiology and sensory sium of ‘Acoustic communication of - ecology. A large proportion of Arthropods’. As expected, this sym- thoptera published, and the list below the featured articles come from posium will have a number of talks includes only large reviews or books, European laboratories focusing on on Orthoptera bioacoustics. Other crickets and katydid hearing. Ar- research outputs will be presented in ticles can be accessed here: http:// four different poster sections at the 1. A new edition of the book edited lncn.eu/bdiz end of each conference day. by Delvare, G. & Aberlenc, H.P., 5. Axel Hochkirch is coordinating “Les Insectes du Monde, Bio- the elaboration of a red list of Eu- Orthoptera bioacoustics (physiology, ropean Orthoptera for the UICN. neurobiology, biomechanics, system- de détermination des familles”, This work receives contribution atics, taxonomy, etc.) has, for de- includes a chapter on Ensifera by from several orthopterist groups cades, considerably advanced thanks Sylvain Hugel and Laure Desut- from different European countries to many important contributions by ter-Grandcolas. The book will be including Germany, Spain and our German colleagues. Therefore, released soon this year. Greece. A meeting IUCN was - 2. held in Agrinion/Greece on May man Orthopterists is expected in this Orthoptera from France, Belgium, 20th, 2015. Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 7 METALEPTEA Theodore J. Cohn Research Grant Reports courtship residency on male contest outcomes in the Cook Strait giant weta (Deinacrida rugosa)
he genus Deinacrida to court a receptive female before en- By MORGAN D. DEPERNO (giant weta) is a clade of countering an intruding male competi- Augustana College, South Dakota, USA [email protected] nocturnal, herbivorous, tor, thus holding an investment in the JOSE A. ALVAREZ, CHANDLER B. NIELSEN, apterous Orthopterans pairing, would compete more robustly LAUREN K. YARES, CARRIE L. HALL, belonging to the family and hold a contest outcome advantage & DANIEL R. HOWARD TT Anosostomatidae. They over similar- are of Gondwanan lineage with eleven sized intruder endemic species found in New Zea- males. We also land, most exhibiting female-biased hypothesized size dimorphism (Fig. 1). Deinacrida that residency rugosa males are known to move may offset the great distances each night while size advantage, foraging and searching for mates; size with smaller and mobility in males is thought to be resident males under indirect sexual selection related winning a larger to the scramble competition mating proportion of system (Kelly et al. 2008). The pur- contests than pose of our study was to identify fac- predicted by a simple size ad- between males competing for mating vantage model. privileges. Previous work in our lab with Deinacrida rugosa demonstrated Methods that, given equal access to a female, Site: D. rugosa with neither male beginning courtship were oppor- earlier than the other, that male size tunistically reliably predicts contest outcome. In hand-collected treatments used were Same Size male this study, we asked how male resi- combinations (< 1.0 SD size differ- o o Reserve (41.257 S, 174.865 E) on ence) and Different Size male com- We hypothesized that males allowed the North Island of New Zealand dur- binations (larger-smaller, ±2 SD size ing the period 20-26 January 2015. difference) in a 2x3 design. All trials Measurements: To calculate a size parameter for each male, we mea- (Fig. 2), and digital recordings of sured right femur length and pronotal male vibrational duets were collected width using image analysis techniques during contest trials. in ImageJ software (http://imagej. Analysis: During each trial we re- nih.gov/ij/), and mass using a Pesola corded the contest latency, duration, Micro-Line Spring Scale, 60g x 0.5g and outcome. Vibrational signals were (Fig. 3). We included mass measures recorded from the arena substrate with Mass also measured to create a with a Polytec PDV-100 portable morphometric index for each of the laser Doppler vibrometer and Marantz males. This size index value was then PMD-661 portable digital audio re- used to determine contest pairings. corder (24 bit/48 KHz). At trial outset Treatments: In the presence of a receptive female, we conducted male- captured with a Logitech HD web- male contests in resident-intruder cam and Sony HD video recorder for Female Deinacrida rugosa combinations. The two experimental Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 8 METALEPTEA can extend to outweigh the advantage of size in some cases, with smaller resident males outcompeting larger intruder males, in effect exhibiting a form of the ‘Napoleon Complex’ (Just and Morris 2003). This investment in courtship may switch smaller males to exhibit higher levels of aggression as they display mate-guarding behavior. Mosaic plot of male status and con- Mosaic plot of status and outcomes Acknowledgements small residents and larger intruders. A trend We would like to thank the New Zea- for smaller male residents winning (75% of - land Department of Conservation and - rangers Jo Greenman, Emma Dun- ning all contests. ning, Daryl Stephens, and the local Upoko o Te Ika and the the Harbour purposes of coding contest outcomes. tage in contest where no male held Islands Kaitiaki Board for approval of Trials were concluded when one of a size advantage, but that this size and support in conducting this re- the males abandoned the courtship advantage was eroded when smaller search. I thank the Augustana College triad after a male-male vibrational males had invested in courtship, and AURAFA program for funding to sup- duetting bout. the larger male was a novel intruder port travel to New Zealand, and the into the pairing. This suggests that the Orthopterists’ Society’s Theodore J. Results male investment in courtship shifts A total of 20 females and 35 males the competitive balance in inter-male support to conduct the research. were collected from the study site. contests away from a simple size The average morphological index advantage model to something more References value for females was 8476.17 and complex and potentially related to a Kelly C.D., Bussiere L.F., and Gwynne D.T. 3310.04 for males. We conducted mate-guarding strategy. - ten trials with same sized males, In D. rugosa, given equal access to ity in a giant insect with female-biased four of which resulted in an outcome a receptive female, larger males hold and clear contest winner. In these 172:417-423. cases the two males competed for the contests, mediating these through vi- female, participated in a vibrational brational duetting bouts. When males duet, and one male abandoned the are allowed to invest in solitary court- duet and courtship activities. If the ship, resident males tend to defend 522. males did not interact with the female the female or compete with each other the trial vigorously, was excluded from analysis. In each initiate the of these successful trials, the resident vibrational male won the mating contest against duetting the intruder male in all cases (Fig. 3; bout, and Fisher’s Exact Test, N = 4, P = 0.029). most often Eleven trials were conducted involv- outcompete ing males of different sizes. In these intruder trials, three of the four trials in which males given males actively contested were won equal con- by the smaller resident male (Fig. 4; testant size. Fisher’s Exact Test, N = 4, P = 0.48). support our Main Findings & Discussion hypothesis Our research found that males with that invest- established residency (20 mins. of ac- ment in tive courtship) held a contest advan- courtship Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 9 METALEPTEA Sexual communication and the species boundary in closely related Teleogryllus crickets By PETER MORAN University of St Andrews, U.K. [email protected] ield crickets have long level of genetic divergence been renowned for their or evolutionary history of conspicuous advertise- these species. The aim of this ment calls, which play project is twofold: an important role in mate 1) Determine if the species FF choice and are often spe- hybridize in the wild and how discrete the species divergence in communication systems boundary is. and the consequences in regards to 2) Identify the strength and speciation and species coexistence are form of the key reproduc- not well understood. Growing evi- tive barriers and the potential dence, based on advances in genetics, evolutionary forces which is highlighting that species’ boundar- underlie them. Laboratory photo of male and female T. commo- ies may be more dynamic and porous At the outset of the project, dus in close contact. than previously believed (Harrison & Larson, 2014). conducted from March to April 2013 allowed me to test if the species are As part of my Ph.D., I am exam- across an extensive area of eastern reproductively isolated in the wild. As ining the patterns of geographic Australia (~2,500km), encompass- we know from previously published variation in sexual signals and the ing the species’ contact zone (Fig. research (Hoy, 1974) and personal ob- nature of the species boundary in two 2.). Sampling involved identifying servations, hybrid song is intermedi- suitable sites during the day, which ate for many parameters between the Teleogryllus commodus (Fig. 1) and generally were grassy human dis- two species. Therefore, if the species T.oceanicus. These species provide turbed areas, and then returning at are hybridizing in the wild we would an ideal study system to determine night to collect and record crickets. expect intermediate song types in the the role of sexual communication in In total, sixteen laboratory popula- area of overlap. However, the pattern species coexistence as there is a rich tions were initiated from eggs laid by body of knowledge on their acoustic wild caught females (Fig. 2.). Exten- and laboratory recordings, revealed behaviour (e.g. Bailey & Macleod, sive recordings of calling song, from - 2013; Doherty & Hoy, 1985; Hoy, crete species groups, with no evidence 1974). Both species overlap across of common garden reared laboratory of hybridization. a large area on the eastern coast of populations, were made. The two call- Overall, the species distribution and ing song datasets allow for a compari- apparent absence of hybridization is (Hill et al., 1972)) and are known to son between patterns of natural song hybridize in the lab, but very little both Hill et al. (1972) and Otte & Al- is known about the extent of species population differences, revealed by exander (1983) suggesting this pattern admixture in the wild. Calling song is controlling for environmental sources is stable, both temporally and spa- the most distinguishable feature dif- of variation in the lab populations. tially. On our last night of sampling in ferentiating the species and has long In the area of overlap we frequently a small localized area of north eastern been believed to play a critical role encountered males of both species Australia, while wading around in a in maintaining the species boundary. singing in very close proximity to swampy, potentially crocodile-infest- However, despite the wealth of previ- each other, with no obvious envi- - ous studies on these species’ acous- ronmental segregation. T.oceanicus tive closely-related species, T.marini, tic behaviour, the focus has almost appeared to predominate and calling singing amongst T.oceanicus males. solely been on allopatric populations, song recordings of the F1 labora- This presumed species, which has ignoring the potential contribution of tory generations suggested all of the only been described once, decades interactions between the species (ex- offspring from sympatric popula- ago (Otte & Alexander, 1983), is ception: Hill et al., 1972). In addition, tions were of the T.oceanicus species. easily recognized based on its dis- almost nothing is known about the Analysis of calling song, from both Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 10 METALEPTEA and genotypic traits to test if the patterns are concordant will provide powerful and comprehensive insight into the role of sexual communication traits in delimiting the species bound- ary.
References - - 170–180. - tory behavior of crickets: some views of study species within Australia and oscillograms of each species calling song. T.oceanicus is dis- T.commodus mainly restricted to the south. Both species overlap in an area ~500km long on the mid-eastern T.oceanicus, green sympatric popula- T.commodus. The overlapping yellow and orange circles in the north represent the site where we encountered and sampled both T.oceanicus T.marini. commodus and T. oceanicus (Orthoptera: tinct calling song, which has a lower species divergence. carrier frequency and a drawn-out trill Following on from this, I’m cur- - section compared to the other Austra- rently examining chemical signals - lian Teleogryllus (Fig. 2.). Excitingly, (cuticular hydrocarbons) and genomic this provides another contact zone data, sampled from individuals along in which we can examine the role of the same population transect. Integrat- Australian crickets (Orthoptera: Gryl- sexual communication in maintaining ing the results from these phenotypic (Gryllus sp.) as a function for parasitoid avoidance By TOM CHEN California State University, Northridge [email protected] exual dimorphism of sec- function as mating signals to attract ers, predators/parasitoids also hone in ondary sexual traits (e.g., on these conspicuous signals (Wagner, coloration, vocalization) most conspicuous displays are pre- 1996; Zuk and Kolluru, 1998). At- is commonly observed tractive males, therefore, experience a in many species across obtaining more mating opportunities SS varying taxa: the males of than less conspicuous males (Thorn- risk of mortality. many species of birds have ornamen- hill and Alcock, 1983; Andersson, tal feathers and/or colorful plumage 1994). These preferred traits may cricket (Gryllus) found at Kofa while females do not (Owens and undergo a directional selection and National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Hartley, 1998; Cuervo and Møller, can become even more exaggerated Arizona, faces these opposing selec- 2001); males of most species of frogs in the subsequent generations. How- tion pressures (personal observation). have vocal sacs while females do not; ever, predation or parasitism exerts Males chirp to attract mates; however, and usually, only male crickets have an opposing selection pressure on their signals are often intercepted by the stridulatory features to produce conspicuous males. Similar to female Ormia ochra- chirps. These secondary sexual traits preference for more attractive signal- cea (Diptera: Tachinidae). These Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 11 METALEPTEA parasitoids deposit larvae on call- study can provide insight into the bal- Subsequently, the tubes were turned ing crickets, which then burrow into ance of sexual and ecological selec- on their sides and the timers were and consume the hosts from within. tion on conspicuous signals. started. The collected data from both Approximately 7–10 days later, the components still need to be analyzed larvae erupt from their hosts result- is to determine if calling behavior of at a later date. ing in the death of the crickets. This G13 varies seasonally as a result of parasitoid pressure, however, is not differential parasitoid presence. I con- References constant throughout the year. G13 is ducted monthly surveys at Kofa NWR bivoltine, with adult emergence peak- (Yuma, Arizona; 33.36°N, 114.11°W, ing in spring and autumn, while O. elevation of 648 m) starting in Febru- Ormia ochracea, on the behaviour and ochracea is abundant in autumn, but ary, 2014, until November, 2014, cricket hosts ( not in spring (David A. Gray, per- to document the presence of (1) O. sonal communication; Paur and Gray, ochracea using sound traps (Walker, 2011). Previous research on Gryllus 1989) and (2) calling G13s by per- rubens (similar life history as G13) forming transect surveys. I was only - documented that males in autumn able to capture a limited number (n < ornamental and non-ornamental feath- than males in spring populations due seasons to be used for song recording. to the presence of O. ochracea in au- tumn (Vélez and Brockmann, 2006). separately in individual plastic tubs dimorphism in birds: why are there so stored in a temperature-controlled number of calling males in autumn dark room (27°C; 12:12 light dark London. Series B: Biological Sciences, could stem from one of two causes: cycle) and given ad libitum water and (1) males adaptively decrease their cat food and a section of egg carton - calling effort due to parasitoid pres- for refuge. As some crickets had the namics and overwintering strategy of the - potential to be parasitized, I started Ormia tially target and eliminate the bolder ochracea male crickets that exhibit great calling they were brought back to the lab. effort. Wilson et al. (2010) found a Each individual was housed in sound- 145–156. positive correlation between calling - - effort (in terms of time spent calling phones and recorded using an audio per night) and exploratory behavior (correlated to boldness) for indi- of total nightly calling time will be viduals of the European house cricket compared between the two seasonal (Acheta domesticus) that were com- populations using ANOVA. rubens. Animal behaviour, 72: 439–448. mercially bred. The bolder males in The second objective of this study the study were found to emerge much is to determine whether behavioral quicker from their refuge to explore syndrome correlates with the seasonal variation of calling behavior. Previ- study suggest that bolder crickets are ous research found crickets with a - more likely to be out of their refuge “shy” disposition to be risk-averse toring Euphasiopteryx and tests with E. ochr and calling, which makes these males more vulnerable to the predators and to “bolder” crickets (Wilson et al., parasitoids. However, as the Wilson 2010). I conducted laboratory experi- et al. study (2010) only used commer- ments to assess shy/bold personalities cially-bred crickets, I am interested of G13 males by measuring the dura- in applying the similar protocols to tion of time that a male took to begin - exploration of a novel area. Each male pean house cricket, . autumn population of crickets will was placed inside PVC tubes (capped have a higher ratio of “shy” males to on one end) that were 12 cm in length 703–715. bold males. The results of this study and approximately 3.5 cm in internal - can provide direct evidence that diameter. The males were allowed to behavioral syndrome has a major role acclimate inside the PVC tubes with 73: 415–438. the capped end down for 2 minutes. Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 12 METALEPTEA Testing the effects of snow cover on hatching success in an Australian alpine grasshopper: By RACHEL SLATYER University of Melbourne, Australia [email protected] lpine environments Grasshoppers cover 3% of the Earth’s are dominant land area and contain a herbivores in disproportionately high Australia’s number of endemic mountain AA species, each adapted to regions and the the long periods of seasonal snow that alpine-endemic characterise these regions (Körner “chameleon 2003). Snow forms a critical compo- grasshopper”, nent of the ecology of high mountain Kosciuscola regions, providing a thermally stable tristis, is the environment where temperatures typi- most abundant and widespread by less than 2°C over the course of grasshopper the winter (Körner 2003). This space above the winter - is an important winter refuge for snowline. This turbed. mountain fauna – both those that are species lays eggs either experimental or control plots. active underneath the snow layer and that overwinter in diapause, under the Experimental plots were kept free of those that overwinter in a dormant or snow. The goal of this study was to snow throughout the winter, while inactive state. examine the effects of reduced winter control plots were left to accumulate At a global scale, substantial snow on the hatching success of these snow naturally (Fig. 1). Temperature changes in mountain snow cover have eggs. The project was carried out loggers were also installed in each site occurred over the last 50 years, with over two years, at two locations – Mt to monitor conditions throughout the the depth and extent of the snowpack Stirling, Victoria (1,700 m.a.s.l) in winter. declining in most mountain regions 2013 and the Snowy Mountains, New (Brown & Mote 2009; Stewart 2009). South Wales (1800 m.a.s.l) in 2014. experiment that worked really well! Loss of this insulating snow layer will Removing the insulating snow layer mean that underlying communities are during the peak laying season in late dramatically increased temperature exposed to colder soil temperatures, March. The pods were then placed an increase in freeze-thaw cycles into individual mesh cages and sub- exposure to cold extremes (absolute merged 1 cm below the soil surface in minimum: 0.1°C vs -4.8°C) and (Körner 2003). Despite this, only two studies (both from the Rocky Moun- tains in Colorado) have directly tested the effects of reduced snow cover on overwintering insects. In Australia, snow seasonally covers only 12,500 km2. Spring snow depth has declined by 40% over the last 40 years (Nicholls 2005) and the extent of snow cover is predicted to de- cline by 20-85% by 2050 (relative to 1990; Hennessey et al. 2007). In this context, understanding how over- wintering species might respond to a changing snowpack is urgent. Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 13 METALEPTEA the frequency of freeze-thaw cycles aforementioned wildlife issues) but (0% days vs 46%). These effects are are yet to hatch. The next step for the shown for one pair of sites in Fig. 2. project is to try and induce hatch- - Unfortunately, the most excit- ing. Very little is known about the ing part of the experiment – how an diapause of K. tristis eggs, however, so any ideas or suggestions are most Berlin. development and survival of K. tristis welcome. climate change and the Australian snow season. Australian Meteorological Maga- results as of yet. In 2013, a ‘wildlife References incident’ meant that most egg pods were lost prior to data on hatching success being recorded. The egg pods cover to a changing climate. Journal of from 2014 were removed from the Climate, 22, 2124-2145. 94. Investigating the distribution of the IUCN Red Listed katydid species in South Africa By AILEEN THOMPSON Stellenbosch University South Africa lobal biodiversity is tant at a global centred in 34 biodiver- scale, but it can sity hotspots. Charac- be argued that teristically, these are it is essential in areas of high endemism a megadiverse GG that are facing consid- country, such as South Africa. loss. Although they only cover 2% One way in of the earth’s surface, biodiversity which the dis- hotspots contain up to 50% of all tribution of bio- plant species and 42% of terrestrial diversity can be vertebrate species. However, their ef- investigated is to - look at regional sects in particular, remains unknown. species rich- South Africa is one of few coun- ness. A further tries that can be considered as mega- step along is to Africa diverse, being home to not just one include species biodiversity hotspot but rather three, species has been assessed according namely: the Cape Floristic Region, assessments. In South Africa, there to its IUCN Red List status, distribu- the Succulent Karoo and the Ma- currently exists a rapid assessment tion range and sensitivity to habitat putaland Pondoland Albany hotspots change and allocated a score between (Fig. 1). Mapping and understanding 0 and 9. This allows mangers to as- the distribution of diversity is impor- indicators of habitat quality (Simaika Table 1. Showing how mobility and trophic level were assessed