Evolutionary loss of sexual signals is widespread. Examining the consequences for behaviours associated with such signals can provide insight into factors promoting or inhibiting trait loss. We tested whether a behavioural component of a sexual trait, male calling effort, has been evolutionary reduced in silent populations of Hawaiian field crickets (Teleogryllus oceanicus). Cricket song requires energetically costly wing movements, but 'flatwing' males have feminized wings that preclude song and protect against a lethal, eavesdropping parasitoid. Flatwing males express wing movement patterns associated with singing but, in contrast with normal-wing males, sustained periods of wing movement cannot confer sexual selection benefits and should be subject to strong negative selection. We developed an automated technique to quantify how long males spend expressing wing movements associated with song. We compared calling effort among populations of Hawaiian crickets with differing proportions of silent males and between male morphs. Contrary to expectation, silent populations invested as much in calling effort as non-silent populations. Additionally, flatwing and normal-wing males from the same population did not differ in calling effort. The lack of evolved behavioural adjustment following morphological change in silent Hawaiian crickets illustrates how behaviour might sometimes impede, rather than facilitate, evolution.

中文翻译：

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行为会阻碍进化吗？蟋蟀形态学失歌后歌唱努力的持续性。

性信号的进化损失很普遍。检查与此类信号相关的行为的后果可以深入了解促进或抑制特征丧失的因素。我们测试了在夏威夷蟋蟀（Teleogryllus oceanicus）的沉默种群中，性特征的行为成分——雄性呼唤努力是否已经进化减少。蟋蟀歌唱需要耗费大量精力的翅膀运动，但“平翅”雄性具有女性化的翅膀，可以阻止歌唱并防止致命的窃听寄生蜂。平翅雄性表达与唱歌相关的翅膀运动模式，但与正常翅雄性相比，持续的翅膀运动不能带来性选择益处，应该受到强烈的负面选择。我们开发了一种自动化技术来量化男性花费多长时间来表达与歌曲相关的翅膀运动。我们比较了夏威夷蟋蟀种群与不同比例的沉默雄性和雄性变体之间的呼唤努力。出乎意料的是，沉默的人群与非沉默的人群一样多地投入了呼叫努力。此外，来自同一种群的平翅雄性和正常翅雄性在呼唤努力方面没有差异。沉默的夏威夷蟋蟀形态变化后缺乏进化的行为调整说明行为有时可能会阻碍而不是促进进化。出乎意料的是，沉默的人群与非沉默的人群一样多地投入了呼叫努力。此外，来自同一种群的平翅雄性和正常翅雄性在呼唤努力方面没有差异。沉默的夏威夷蟋蟀形态变化后缺乏进化的行为调整说明行为有时可能会阻碍而不是促进进化。出乎意料的是，沉默的人群与非沉默的人群一样多地投入了呼叫努力。此外，来自同一种群的平翅雄性和正常翅雄性在呼唤努力方面没有差异。沉默的夏威夷蟋蟀形态变化后缺乏进化的行为调整说明行为有时可能会阻碍而不是促进进化。