Age‐Related Plasticity Integration in Male Cicadas Tettigetta isshikii: Are Adult Cicadas Capital Breeders?

ABSTRACT Labile traits, such as behavioural, physiological traits or body mass, vary within an individual either over time or across environments. Such changes within an individual can be linked across traits, forming within‐individual trait correlations. These correlations are particularly expected...

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Main Authors: Jiman Heo, Chang S. Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-11-01
Series:Ecology and Evolution
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70569
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author Jiman Heo
Chang S. Han
author_facet Jiman Heo
Chang S. Han
author_sort Jiman Heo
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Labile traits, such as behavioural, physiological traits or body mass, vary within an individual either over time or across environments. Such changes within an individual can be linked across traits, forming within‐individual trait correlations. These correlations are particularly expected when ageing causes changes in the expression of multiple traits. Moreover, the direction of these correlations depends on mechanisms that explain age‐related changes in each trait, such as physiological deterioration or changes in future fitness expectations. Therefore, assessing within‐individual trait correlations offers insights into trait‐specific ageing patterns, their integration and age‐related reproductive strategies. Here, we tracked individual male cicadas (Tettigetta isshikii) in their natural habitat, repeatedly assessing their plant use (narrow‐leafed vs. large‐leafed plants), calling activity and body mass. The results revealed that male cicadas lost mass, increased calling activity and a preference for narrow‐leafed plants as they aged. This integration of age‐related plasticity led to negative within‐individual correlations between body mass and behaviours. Considering that adult cicadas consume nutritionally poor xylem sap, the negative within‐individual correlations between body mass and risk‐taking behaviour suggest that T. isshikii males follow a capital breeding strategy rather than an income breeding strategy. As adult cicadas may use up the energy stored during the nymph stage, an age‐related increase in energetically demanding calling activity could cause an age‐related decrease in body mass. The terminal investment hypothesis could also explain the age‐related increase in calling activity and the preference for narrow‐leafed plants. Therefore, we emphasise the importance of individual‐level tracking studies in the wild to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the life‐history strategies and behavioural ecology of a study animal.
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spelling doaj-art-e3c566eeff7e4886b9744db950c466b42025-08-20T02:52:38ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-11-011411n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70569Age‐Related Plasticity Integration in Male Cicadas Tettigetta isshikii: Are Adult Cicadas Capital Breeders?Jiman Heo0Chang S. Han1Department of Biology Kyung Hee University Seoul KoreaDepartment of Biology Kyung Hee University Seoul KoreaABSTRACT Labile traits, such as behavioural, physiological traits or body mass, vary within an individual either over time or across environments. Such changes within an individual can be linked across traits, forming within‐individual trait correlations. These correlations are particularly expected when ageing causes changes in the expression of multiple traits. Moreover, the direction of these correlations depends on mechanisms that explain age‐related changes in each trait, such as physiological deterioration or changes in future fitness expectations. Therefore, assessing within‐individual trait correlations offers insights into trait‐specific ageing patterns, their integration and age‐related reproductive strategies. Here, we tracked individual male cicadas (Tettigetta isshikii) in their natural habitat, repeatedly assessing their plant use (narrow‐leafed vs. large‐leafed plants), calling activity and body mass. The results revealed that male cicadas lost mass, increased calling activity and a preference for narrow‐leafed plants as they aged. This integration of age‐related plasticity led to negative within‐individual correlations between body mass and behaviours. Considering that adult cicadas consume nutritionally poor xylem sap, the negative within‐individual correlations between body mass and risk‐taking behaviour suggest that T. isshikii males follow a capital breeding strategy rather than an income breeding strategy. As adult cicadas may use up the energy stored during the nymph stage, an age‐related increase in energetically demanding calling activity could cause an age‐related decrease in body mass. The terminal investment hypothesis could also explain the age‐related increase in calling activity and the preference for narrow‐leafed plants. Therefore, we emphasise the importance of individual‐level tracking studies in the wild to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the life‐history strategies and behavioural ecology of a study animal.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70569ageingcapital breedingcicadaplasticityTettigetta isshikiiwithin‐individual correlation
spellingShingle Jiman Heo
Chang S. Han
Age‐Related Plasticity Integration in Male Cicadas Tettigetta isshikii: Are Adult Cicadas Capital Breeders?
Ecology and Evolution
ageing
capital breeding
cicada
plasticity
Tettigetta isshikii
within‐individual correlation
title Age‐Related Plasticity Integration in Male Cicadas Tettigetta isshikii: Are Adult Cicadas Capital Breeders?
title_full Age‐Related Plasticity Integration in Male Cicadas Tettigetta isshikii: Are Adult Cicadas Capital Breeders?
title_fullStr Age‐Related Plasticity Integration in Male Cicadas Tettigetta isshikii: Are Adult Cicadas Capital Breeders?
title_full_unstemmed Age‐Related Plasticity Integration in Male Cicadas Tettigetta isshikii: Are Adult Cicadas Capital Breeders?
title_short Age‐Related Plasticity Integration in Male Cicadas Tettigetta isshikii: Are Adult Cicadas Capital Breeders?
title_sort age related plasticity integration in male cicadas tettigetta isshikii are adult cicadas capital breeders
topic ageing
capital breeding
cicada
plasticity
Tettigetta isshikii
within‐individual correlation
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70569
work_keys_str_mv AT jimanheo agerelatedplasticityintegrationinmalecicadastettigettaisshikiiareadultcicadascapitalbreeders
AT changshan agerelatedplasticityintegrationinmalecicadastettigettaisshikiiareadultcicadascapitalbreeders