Using Radio Telemetry to Assess Movement Patterns in a Giant Rhinoceros Beetle: Are There Differences Among Majors, Minors, and Females?

摘要

Here I present the results of a radio-telemetry study that examined the movement patterns of T. dichotomus major males, minor males, and females. I compare the daytime roosting behaviour and distances traveled by major and minor morphs in order to assess two potential, but previously overlooked, alternative reproductive tactics. First, minor males may travel farther to and from sap sites in order to encounter more females per night than major males. Second, minor males may attempt to mate with females during the day at roost sites, or at sap sites after the major males have departed. Because only a few studies have tracked flying insects with radio transmitters (Hedin and Ranius 2002; Beaudoin-Ollivier et al. 2003; Rink and Sinsch 2007; Wikelski et al. 2010), I also discuss the effectiveness of using radio telemetry to monitor movement patterns in a giant rhinoceros beetle.Digital Object Identifier http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10905-012-9334-8