Alternative Strategy of Mophorlogy and Vocal Behavior in Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus nepalensis)

Abstract

Abstract Competition for reproductive resources is a popular topic in behavioral ecology. Burying beetles’ body size determines the victory in the competition for breeding resources1,2. The small male beetles who usually lose in the competion could adpot alternative strategy by being satellite males to reproduce offspring3. It has been observed in male Nicrophorus spp. that there is an obviour secondary sexual characteristic on their clypeus, and secondary sexual characteristic degeneration has been found on some small males. This study investigate the relationship between secondary sexual characteristic degeneration and body size in males and compare the strategies used by different types of male beetles in competition in term of vocalization structure and vocal behavior. We reveal small inferior males would disguise as females with degenerative secondary sexual characteristic and being silent to avoid attacks from dominant males. Males’ size and development of secondary sexual characteristic are impacted by the acquired food intake instead of gene. And we found the difference of vocal behavior between genders when they encounter different individuals. This research highlights satelite males would employ mixed strategy based on developmental plasticity to lower the attention of dominant males and beetles would adopt conditional strategy with vocal behavior in competion.