Meeting Abstract

12.6  Jan. 4  Female response behavior to complex, intermittent luminescent male displays in a Caribbean ostracod. RIVERS, TJ*; MORIN, JG; Cornell University; Cornell University tjr28@cornell.edu

Although bioluminescence is much more prevalent in marine environments than terrestrial ones, describing female response behavior in mating systems where males utilize distinct, species-specific luminescent courtship displays to attract females has been restricted to a few terrestrial species of fireflies. Male myodocopid ostracods (<2mm) utilize luminescence in the most unique and complex displays known to date in marine environments. We focus on a grassbed-flashing species, where males display upward into the water column in a display that can contain up to 19 flashes of light secreted into the water column. Previous attempts to observe female behavior have been confounded by displaying males in the same tank intercepting and trying (unsuccessfully) to copulate with the female before she can exhibit choice. Here, by using a light-emitting-diode array to mimic a male display and Infra-red (IR) cameras to record behavior, we give evidence that females are indeed responding to luminescence and approach a moving, intermittent luminescent signal in a way to intercept a signaling male. We hypothesize that luminescence is the primary signal to attract receptive females, and that secondary chemical cues may prove to be vital for the final homing in on a displaying male.