Unbalanced functions of sexual communication lead to reproductive interference in two syntopic scorpion species

OVIEDO DIEGO, M.; COSTA-SCHMIDT, L. E.; MATTONI, C. I.; PERETTI, A. V.

Indiana

Congreso; 57th Annual Conference of the Animal Behavior Society; 2020

Animal Behavior Society

Mate choice communication involves three non-mutually exclusivefunctions: species recognition, mate recognition, and mate assessment. Theperformance among them may be unbalanced and primarily ruled by the potentialsocial interactions among individuals. We assessed these functions for volatile andcontact pheromones in two sympatric scorpion species (Urophonius achalensisand U. brachycentrus) with synchronic reproduction that are under intensescramble competition. In Y-maze tests, males of both species detect conspecificsfemales through volatile pheromones, spending more time in proximity to better-condition females. Also, males? searching ability was directly related to theircondition. In multiple-choice arenas, we found no evidence of specific recognitionbased on contact pheromones. Males from one species even prefer theheterospecific female signal. Despite the reproductive synchrony of the species,scramble competition seems to have a leading role in this system, resulting in areproductive interference scenario. Our results support the notion of non-independent and unbalanced functions in sexual communication, stating matechoice as a continuous and intricate process.