Effect of temperature on life-history traits and mating calls of a field cricket, Acanthogryllus asiaticus
AbstractEctotherms are sensitive to the changes in ambient temperature with respect to their physiology and development. To compensate for the effects of variation in temperature, ectotherms exhibit physiological plasticity which can be for short or long term. An extensive body of literature exists towards understanding these effects and the solutions ectotherms have evolved. However, to what extent rearing temperature during early life stages impacts the behaviour expressed in adulthood is less clearly understood. In the present study, we aimed to examine the effect of developmental temperature on life-history traits and mating call features in a tropical field cricket, Acanthogryllus asiaticus. We raised A. asiaticus at two different developmental conditions: 25°C and 30°C. We found developmental time and adult lifespan of individuals reared at 30°C to be shorter than those at 25°C. Increased developmental temperature influenced various body size parameters differentially. Males raised at 30°C were found to be larger and heavier than those raised at 25°C, making A. asiaticus an exception to the temperature-size rule. We found a significant effect of the change in immediate ambient temperature on different call features of both field-caught and lab-bred individuals. In addition, developmental temperature also affected mating call features as individuals raised at higher temperature produced faster calls with a higher peak frequency compared to those raised at lower temperature. However, the interaction of both developmental and immediate temperature on mating calls showed differential effects. Our study highlights the importance of understanding how environmental temperature shapes life-history and sexual communication in crickets.
