Meeting Abstract
Individual variation in resource acquisition prior to mating can influence mating dynamics. Water is one resource that may impact reproduction, but little is known how variation in individual hydration status affects mating behaviors. Here, we investigate the effects of short-term water deprivation on mating behavior in the harvestman, Leiobunum vittatum. Leiobunine harvestmen follow stereotyped stages of mating, with the potential for female resistance to end the interaction at each stage: males first embrace (clasp) females, then copulate, and some males guard females after mating. We ran single choice mating trials between males and females that were either deprived or not deprived of water for four hours prior to interacting to determine how water deprivation affects mating dynamics across each stage. Our results indicate that water deprivation impacts multiple stages of mating, with the stage of reproduction affected depending on whether the male or the female was water-deprived. These results suggest that short periods of water deprivation can alter mating behaviors and may be an important, but understudied, factor in sexual selection research.
