| Title: | Olfactory signaling of aggressive intent in male-male contests of cave crickets (Troglophilus neglectus; Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) |
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| Authors: | ID Stritih Peljhan, Nataša (Author)
ID Žunič Kosi, Alenka (Author) |
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| Files: |  PDF - Presentation file, download (13,82 MB)
MD5: 6C919A55EF17B9F2A3EEC905F4A68E29
 URL - Source URL, visit https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0187512
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| Language: | English |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: |  NIB - National Institute of Biology
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| Abstract: | In animal contests, communicating aggressive motivation is most often mediated by visual or acoustic signals, while chemical signals are not expected to serve such a function since they are less able to be modulated by the sender during the changing behavioral context. We describe a rare example of ephemeral olfactory signals in terrestrial animals, signals that are emitted via protrusive scent glands in male cave crickets Troglophilus neglectus (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae) to reflect the state of the signaler’s aggression. We correlate the intensity of behaviorally expressed aggression of the individuals in dyadic contests with the frequency and extent of their gland tissue protrusion, the latter serving as an indication of the amount of released odor. We detected large amounts of odor release during brief gland protrusions, and the absence of its release during gland retraction. Males protruded the glands during and after encountering a rival, with the degree of protrusion increasing with the intensity of the signalers’ aggression. During the encounters, the degree of gland protrusion increased most strongly with the occurrence of the elevated body posture, directly preceding the attack. This degree was significantly higher in encounter winners than in losers displaying such posture, suggesting the highly important role of the released odor for contest resolution. After the encounters, glands were protruded almost exclusively by winners, apparently announcing victory. We tested for the function of the olfactory signals also directly, by preventing gland tissue protrusion in symmetric and asymmetric treatments of the contestants. Treating only the dominant individuals decreased the percentage of encounters they won by over 60%, while treating both contestants elicited a significant increase in the frequency and duration of fights. During contests, the olfactory signals of T. neglectus apparently function as a highly effective threat, which prevents maximal contest escalation and decreases the conflict-related costs. |
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| Keywords: | animal behaviour, bioacoustics, aggression |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Publication date: | 07.11.2017 |
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| Year of publishing: | 2017 |
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| Number of pages: | str. 1-18 |
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| Numbering: | Vol. 12, iss. 11 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DiRROS-19693  |
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| UDC: | 591.5 |
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| ISSN on article: | 1932-6203 |
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| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0187512 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 4492111 |
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| Note: | Nasl. z nasl. zaslona;
Opis vira z dne 10. 11. 2017;
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| Publication date in DiRROS: | 25.07.2024 |
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| Views: | 296 |
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| Downloads: | 195 |
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