Open AccessA narrow hybrid zone between the grasshoppers S tenobothrus clavatus and S tenobothrus rubicundus ( O rthoptera: G omphocerinae): female preferences for courtship songs
Author(s) -
Vedenina Varvara,
Fähsing Sylvia,
Sradnick Jan,
Klöpfel Anja,
Elsner Norbert
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
biological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.906
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1095-8312
pISSN - 0024-4066
DOI - 10.1111/bij.12005
Subject(s) - biology , courtship , allopatric speciation , zoology , hybrid , orthoptera , grasshopper , ecology , evolutionary biology , population , botany , demography , sociology
Two grasshopper species, S tenobothrus rubicundus and S tenobothrus clavatus , were previously shown to hybridize in a narrow contact zone on M ount T omaros in northern G reece. The species are characterized by complex and completely different courtship songs. In the present study, we investigated female preferences for the courtship songs of S . rubicundus , S . clavatus and hybrids in playback experiments. Playback of the courtship songs revealed assortative preferences in females of the parental species: they significantly more often preferred the songs of conspecific males. Hybrid females showed a lower selectivity than parental females, responding somewhat equally eager to playback of the songs of S . clavatus , S . rubicundus , and natural hybrid song, although less actively to the F 1 hybrid song. The results suggest that hybrid males may lose to males of parental species, whereas hybrid females would even have an advantage over parental females. Comparison of responses of females from allopatric populations and M ount T omaros to different song types shows no evidence for reinforcement. Asymmetry found in female preferences may have implications for the structure of the hybrid zone. © 2013 T he L innean S ociety of L ondon