Phonotaxis during walking and flight: are differences in selectivity due to predation pressure?

Area of Science:

• Animal behavior
• Neuroethology
• Bioacoustics

Background:

• Tettigonia viridissima (common bush-cricket) uses auditory cues for mate recognition.
• Female phonotaxis, the orientation towards male songs, is crucial for reproductive success.
• Auditory processing can be modulated by behavioral context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate female selectivity for temporal parameters of conspecific songs in Tettigonia viridissima.
• To compare auditory selectivity during walking versus tethered flight.
• To explore the neural basis for observed differences in selectivity.

Main Methods:

• Behavioral experiments testing female phonotaxis responses to synthetic male songs.
• Stimuli varied in temporal parameters, specifically minimum interval duration between double pulses.
• Comparison of responses during compensated walking and tethered flight conditions.

Main Results:

• Female selectivity for two temporal parameters was similar in walking and flight.
• Selectivity for minimum interval duration was significantly higher during walking (responded to ≥28 ms) than flight (responded to ≥18 ms).
• The interneuron TN-1 is implicated in filtering minimum interval duration and potentially bat calls.

Conclusions:

• Behavioral context (walking vs. flight) alters auditory selectivity in female Tettigonia viridissima.
• Reduced selectivity for minimum interval duration during flight may facilitate predator detection.
• The interneuron TN-1's dual role in song processing and predator detection may explain altered selectivity during flight.