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Research article2003Peer reviewed

Modelling mating success of saproxylic beetles in relation to search behaviour, population density and substrate abundance

Jonsson M, Kindvall O, Jonsell M, Nordlander G

Abstract

We compared the efficiency of two mate-finding strategies exploited by representatives of the beetle families Cisidae and Anobiidae (genus Dorcatoma) that live inside fruiting bodies of wood-decaying fungi. In the Cisidae both sexes are attracted to host odour, but no pheromones seem to be present (nonpheromone strategy). In the Dorcatoma species only the females are attracted to host odour, but having found a host they attract males with a sexual pheromone (pheromone strategy). With a simulation model, we compared the efficiency of the two strategies at four densities of trees hosting fungal fruiting bodies and at three relative densities of insects. We found only small differences in efficiency between the two strategies at high relative densities of conspecific individuals, regardless of host tree density. The pheromone strategy was relatively more efficient when the relative density of insects or the density of host trees decreased. Thus, species adopting the nonpheromone strategy are probably more sensitive to habitat fragmentation and more likely to decline and go extinct at low population densities (because of Allee effects) than species using the pheromone strategy. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour

Published in

Animal Behaviour
2003, Volume: 65, pages: 1069-1076
Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS LTD ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

      SLU Authors

    • Jonsson, Mattias

      • Department of Entomology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

        • Jonsell, Mats

          • Department of Entomology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

          UKÄ Subject classification

          Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

          Publication identifier

          DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/anbe.2003.2141

          Permanent link to this page (URI)

          https://res.slu.se/id/publ/936