Fighting changes courtship activity in the male cricket

Author(s):  
Yuri Ogawa ◽  
Masaki Sakai
Endocrinology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (8) ◽  
pp. 3780-3791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Fuxjager ◽  
J. Douglas Schultz ◽  
Julia Barske ◽  
Ni Y. Feng ◽  
Leonida Fusani ◽  
...  

Sex steroids affect the motivation to court mates, but less is known about how they influence motor movements associated with courtship behavior. Steroidal control of motor function may be especially important for species in which courtship requires superior strength, stamina, and neuromuscular coordination. Here we use the golden-collared manakin (Manacus vitellinus) to examine whether the neuromuscular circuitry that controls motoric aspects of courtship activity is sensitive to androgens. Males of this tropical species attract mates by rapidly jumping among branches in a courtship arena and using their wings to produce loud wing snaps. Testosterone activates this display via the androgen receptor (AR), and past work reveals that manakins injected with radio-labeled T (3H-T) accumulate radioactivity in the spinal cord. Thus, we used quantitative PCR to measure AR, estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) subtype, and aromatase (AROM) mRNA in spinal cords of male and female manakins and zebra finches. Expression of AR, but not ER-α or aromatase, was higher throughout the manakin spinal cord compared with the zebra finch. Next, we tested whether AR-expressing skeletal muscles are innervated by motor and sensory neurons that also express AR. To do this, we backfilled spinal neurons by injecting fluorescent tracers into select AR-sensitive wing and leg muscles of wild caught male and female manakins. We then removed these spinal cords and measured AR expression with in situ hybridization. Both sexes showed abundant AR mRNA in the cervical and lumbosacral spinal enlargements as well as in dorsal root ganglia attached to these enlargements. Together our findings suggest that androgens act widely on peripheral motor and sensory circuits in golden-collared manakins to influence wing snapping displays.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel A. Tripp ◽  
Ni Y. Feng ◽  
Andrew H. Bass

AbstractFor many animal species, vocal communication is a critical social behavior, often a necessary component of reproductive success. In addition to the role of vocal behavior in social interactions, vocalizations are often demanding motor acts. Through understanding the genes involved in regulating and permitting vertebrate vocalization, we can better understand the mechanisms regulating vocal and, more broadly, motor behaviors. Here, we use RNA-sequencing to investigate neural gene expression underlying the performance of an extreme vocal behavior, the courtship hum of the plainfin midshipman fish (Porichthys notatus). Single hums can last up to two hours and may be repeated throughout an evening of courtship activity. We asked whether vocal behavioral states are associated with specific gene expression signatures in key brain regions that regulate vocalization by comparing transcript levels in humming versus non-humming males. We find that the circadian-related genes period3 and Clock are significantly upregulated in the vocal motor nucleus and preoptic area-anterior hypothalamus, respectively, in humming compared to non-humming males, indicating that internal circadian clocks may differ between these divergent behavioral states. In addition, we identify suites of differentially expressed genes related to synaptic transmission, ion channels and transport, hormone signaling, and metabolism and antioxidant activity that may permit or support humming behavior. These results underscore the importance of the known circadian control of midshipman humming and provide testable candidate genes for future studies of the neuroendocrine and motor control of energetically demanding courtship behaviors in midshipman fish and other vertebrate groups.


Author(s):  
Zuma Nayyir ◽  

This study aims to determine the effect of arm length, hand-eye coordination, and arm-toe coordination on the bowling ability of male cricket athletes in Jakarta. Data collection was carried out in early January 2021, which took place at the campus of the Jakarta State University Cricket Arena. The method of research used in this research is survey method with path analysis technique or path analysis. The sample used in this study amounted to 18 people who came from the male Cricket Athlete in Jakarta. The first test that was carried out was measurement of arm length. Then proceed with a test of eye-eye coordination, arm power and bowling ability for male cricket athletes in DKI Jakarta. The hypothesis testing technique used in this study is to use path analysis techniques. The data that has been obtained aka n through a process of analysis of the data through SPSS. The results of this study are: 1) the direct effect of variable X1 on Y (X1  Y) or (r1y) = -0,245. So the effect of arm length (X1) directly affects bowling ability (Y) of -0.245 or -24.5%. 2) The direct effect of variable X2 on Y (X2 Y) or (r2y) = 0.535. So the effect of eye-hand-foot coordination (X2) directly affects bowling ability (Y) by 0.535 or 53.5%. 3) The direct effect of variable X3 on Y (X3  Y) or (r3y) = 0.457. So the effect of arm power (X3) directly affects the bowling ability (Y) of 0.457 or 45.7%. 4) The direct effect of variable X1 on X3 (X1  X3) or (r13) = 0.552. So the effect of arm length (X1) directly affects arm power (X3) by 0.552 or 55.2%. 5). The direct effect of variable X2 on X3 (X2  X3) or (r23) = 0.407. So the effect of hand-eye coordination (X2) directly affects arm power (X3) by 0.407 or 40.7%. 6) The indirect effect of variable X1 on Y through X3 (X1  X3  Y) or (r13y) = 0.552x0.457 = 0.253. So the effect of arm length (X1) indirectly affects bowling ability (Y) through arm power (X3) by 0.253 or 25.3%. 7) The indirect effect of variable X2 on Y through X3 (X2  X3  Y) or (r23y) = 0.407x0.457 = 0.186. So the effect of hand eye coordination (X2) indirectly affects bowling ability (Y) through arm power (X3) by 0.186 or 18.6%.


Author(s):  
Sumedh S. Vaidya ◽  
Bela Agarwal ◽  
Yuvraj Singh ◽  
Rajani Mullerpatan

Abstract Cricket-bowling performance is known to be influenced by speed of ball release and accuracy. Currently, training sessions typically involve fielding-specific drills and conditioning exercises. Scientific evidence for inclusion of a comprehensive yoga intervention in daily training and exercise sessions remains unexplored. The present study explored the effect of yoga on bowling performance and physical fitness in cricket bowlers. Sports fitness testing and training were conducted among 60 non-elite recreational-club male cricket players aged 13–25 years. Cricket-bowling speed was e valuated using a speed radar gun, accuracy with a test developed by Portus et al., cardiorespiratory endurance using the yo-yo intermittent recovery test, lower-extremity and trunk strength using a back-leg dynamometer, upper-limb power using a medicine ball–throw test, power using a vertical-jump test, and flexibility using a sit-and-reach test. In addition to bowling practice, the yoga intervention group (n = 30) performed pranayama and standing and prone asana, whereas the control group (n = 30) practiced conventional conditioning exercises, for 45 minutes/day, three times a week, for 12 weeks. Improvement in bowling speed, accuracy, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, and flexibility were comparable between the two groups. Statistically significant improvements in baseline scores in bowling speed, accuracy, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle flexibility, strength, and power were comparable between the two groups of non-elite male cricket players. Bowling speed improved by 6.52% in the yoga group and by 5.18% in the control group. Bowling accuracy improved by 35.40% in the yoga group and by 31.29% in the control group. Additional research on long-duration intervention in elite players may help to establish the role of yoga in conventional cricket-bowling training.


Behaviour ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 26 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 228-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Lill

Abstract1. Non-random mating was observed in captive Burmese Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus spadiceus) in three experimental situations. 2. When eight cocks were released singly for short periods (one hour) with each of two female flocks it was found that, in one flock, crouching and the coition incidence were non-random; the distribution of female crouching exerted only a limited effect on the distribution of copulations. 3. A quantitative analysis of the courtship of these males revealed that the correlation between differences in male courtship and the distribution of crouching was of an incomplete nature. The cock which elicited most crouches, R, also performed more crouch-evoking displays than other males. Other factors were also important in effecting non-random crouching by females. 4. In a heterosexual flock with four resident males there was a strong correlation between male dominance status and sexual activity. Only the top ranking cock interfered with other males' matings, his own matings being undisturbed. The result was non-random mating, in which only the alpha cock copulated. 5. When the number of males was increased to six, interference was not restricted to the alpha cock and several of his attempted matings were disturbed. This was due to increased sexual excitement through social facilitation, and the net result was a reduction in copulatory activity, effecting random-mating. It was further found that non-random female crouching occurred, the second ranking cock eliciting significantly more sexual crouches than any other male. 6. In two female flocks with single resident males, some elements of male courtship activity were non-randomly distributed amongst the females. In flock II female crouching behaviour exerted a strong affect on male courtship activity, but this was not the case in flock 1. The difference was attributable to a different level of sexual vigour between the two males. 7. The basis of non-random courtship by the males is obscure but is probably based on differences in female behaviour. It is misleading to regard this phenomenon as male "preference" for individual females, it is better categorised as a response to signals irrespective of the identity of the 'signaller'. 8. The occurrence of non-random mating in wild gallinaceous species, particularly those exhibiting a 'lek' courtship, is discussed briefly. Some tentative parallels are drawn with the present work. 9. The present results are very similar to those obtained by several authors for the domestic fowl, which has a very similar social behaviour repertoire.


Nature ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 239 (5371) ◽  
pp. 338-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. I. VANE-WRIGHT
Keyword(s):  

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 535-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen A. Killian ◽  
Janelle R. Allen
Keyword(s):  

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