UVB-based mate-choice cues used by females of the jumping spider Phintella vittata.
Although there are numerous examples of animals having photoreceptors sensitive to UVA (315-400 nm) [1] and relying on UVA-based mate-choice cues [2-5], here we provide the first evidence of an animal using UVB (280-315 nm) for intraspecific communication. An earlier study showed that Phintella vittata, a jumping spider (Salticidae) from China, reflects UVB [6]. By performing six series of binary mate-choice experiments in which we varied lighting conditions with filters (UVB+ [no filter] versus UVB-, UVB+ versus ND1, UVB+ versus ND2, UVB- versus ND1, UVB- versus ND2, and UVB- versus UVA-), we show that significantly more UVB + males than UVB- males are chosen by females as preferred mates. Female preference for UVB-reflective males is not affected by differences in brightness or by UVA.
Li
Jingjing
J
College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Zhang
Zengtao
Z
Liu
Fengxiang
F
Liu
Qingqing
Q
Gan
Wenjin
W
Chen
Jian
J
Lim
Matthew L M
ML
Li
Daiqin
D
D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D052586:Mating Preference, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D013112:Spiders / Q000502:physiology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*