![\"Male](\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/sensoryecology\/files\/2016\/02\/Oecanthidae_-_Oecanthus_pellucens.jpg\")
<\/a>Male tree cricket (Oecanthus pellucens)<\/p><\/div>\n
Since a good mating call is often the first step towards reproduction, many animals counteract these effects by altering\u00a0their calls to avoid masking, either by increasing the amplitude or changing the frequency of their signal. In a recently released study, Orci and colleagues\u00a0examined whether male tree crickets (Oecanthus pellucens<\/em>) modify their mating song in response to varying levels of traffic. Orci et al. chose to study the O. pellucens <\/em>because insects play a vital role in natural and urban ecosystems, and these crickets\u00a0both use acoustic signals to attract females and are common in urban areas. Additionally, their song is of a relatively low frequency, so it is more susceptible to being masked by the low frequencies of traffic. To test their question, Orci et al. conducted two studies: one in the field and one in the lab, where they recorded cricket songs during\u00a0quiet and while hearing\u00a0traffic noise (real or artificial).<\/p>\n Orci et al. analyzed four components of the songs: duration, signal repetition, pauses, and the fundamental frequency. Because crickets produce sound using their wings, they\u00a0have the ability to alter the frequency of their calls by shifting their wing position. Despite this, Orci et al. found no evidence of crickets altering the frequency of their song to allow it to be heard over traffic. They also found there was no significant effect on signal repetition, and there was only a significant increase in number of pauses when outdoors. However, both the indoor and outdoor studies suggest cricket signals during traffic were significantly shorter than during silence. These results imply that the crickets do not modify their calls to be received over traffic. Instead, when they sense noise and realize their own songs are unlikely to be heard, they reduce the energy put towards mating calls by shortening the song and perhaps inserting more pauses.<\/p>\n This is\u00a0potentially significant\u00a0for the reproduction of these males. In many insects, including a different Oecanthus<\/em> species, females have been documented as preferring longer signals. The males who live near roads thus may be less likely to find mates compared to those who do not have to time their calls around traffic. There is a tradeoff between the length of the song (better chance of mating) and the energetic cost of a longer signal. In traffic, it seems that the energetic costs outweigh the mating benefits. These results imply that anthropogenic noise and increased urbanization are affecting mating patterns of other animals, even without direct contact, which raises the question: how many more\u00a0organisms are we affecting in this way that we have yet to notice?<\/p>\n Nevertheless, this study did support\u00a0one additional point:\u00a0traffic is terrible\u00a0for everyone, even insects.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reference:<\/p>\n Orci, K.M, Petroczki, K, & Barta, Z. (2016). Instantaneous song modification in response to fluctuating traffic noise in the tree cricket Oecanthus pellucens<\/em>. Animal Behavior, 112, 187-194.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Traffic poses a direct threat to the survival of insects; they can easily be squashed under a tire or on a windshield. However, it also may pose an indirect threat by causing noise that interferes with mating calls. Traffic and … Continue reading