Burdfield-Steel Emily R, Dougherty Liam R, Smith Lynsey A, Collins Laura A, Shuker David M
School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews KY14 7AU, United Kingdom.
Behav Processes. 2013 Oct;99:52-61. doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2013.06.006. Epub 2013 Jun 21.
Understanding variation in social behaviour both within and among species continues to be a challenge. Evolutionary or ecological theory typically predicts the optimal behaviour for an animal under a given set of circumstances, yet the real world presents much greater variation in behaviour than predicted. This variation is apparent in many social and sexual interactions, including mate choice, and has led to a renewed focus on individual variation in behaviour. Here we explore within and among species variation in social behaviour in four species of aposematic seed bug (Lygaeidae: Hemiptera). These species are Müllerian mimics, with characteristic warning colouration advertising their chemical toxicity. We examine the role of diet in generating variation in two key behaviours: social aggregation of nymphs and mate choice. We test how behaviour varies with exposure to either milkweed (a source of defensive compounds) or sunflower (that provides no defence). We show that although the four species vary in their food preferences, and diet influences their life-history (as highlighted by body size), social aggregation and mate choice is relatively unaffected by diet. We discuss our findings in terms of the evolution of aposematism, the importance of automimicry, and the role of diet in generating behavioural variation.
理解物种内部和物种之间社会行为的差异仍然是一项挑战。进化或生态理论通常预测动物在给定环境下的最优行为，但现实世界中行为的变化比预测的要大得多。这种变化在许多社会和性互动中都很明显，包括配偶选择，并导致人们重新关注行为的个体差异。在这里，我们探讨了四种警戒色蝽象（半翅目：猎蝽科）物种内部和物种之间的社会行为差异。这些物种是缪勒拟态者，具有特征性的警戒色来表明它们的化学毒性。我们研究了食物在产生两种关键行为差异方面的作用：若虫的社会聚集和配偶选择。我们测试了行为如何随着接触马利筋（一种防御性化合物的来源）或向日葵（不提供防御）而变化。我们表明，尽管这四个物种在食物偏好上有所不同，并且食物会影响它们的生活史（如体型所突出显示的），但社会聚集和配偶选择相对不受食物的影响。我们从警戒色的进化、自拟态的重要性以及食物在产生行为差异方面所起的作用等方面讨论了我们的发现。
