Meeting Abstract
While individual variation in male courtship vigor exists, the underlying mechanisms often remain unknown. Biogenic amines, including octopamine (OA) and serotonin (5-HT) act as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, or neurohormones and may regulate courtship. Recently, octopamine was found to be necessary for certain male courtship behaviors in Drosophila. However, the effects of OA and 5-HT (sometimes found to have opposite effects) on male courtship behaviors in other invertebrate taxa remain largely unexplored. Male wolf spiders, Schizocosa ocreata, use visual displays (leg tapping, body bounce, leg arch) in their courtship and have been shown to demonstrate behavioral plasticity in courtship levels in a variety of behavioral contexts. To examine the effects of OA and 5-HT on male courtship, we used topical application (via dimethyl sulfoxide) to manipulate male OA and 5-HT levels at different concentrations (2mg/uL and 10mg/uL). In general, males treated with OA had significantly reduced levels of courtship in comparison to control groups, demonstrating a decreased number of courtship bouts, a decreased sum of courtship behaviors, and a lower courtship rate. Results using topical application of 5-HT and epinastine (an antagonist of OA) will also be discussed. Further, preliminary data will be discussed concerning the effects of OA and 5-HT on mating success.
