Environmental condition-dependent effects on a heritable, preferred male trait

Models for the evolution of female mating preferences suggest that preferred male traits may be condition dependent. In the field cricket, Gryllus integer, a preferred male trait (calling-bout duration) shows high additive genetic variance. I found that this preferred trait is also condition dependent. Under food deprivation, males lose body mass and correspondingly shorten the durations of their calling bouts. This result implies that females might be able to gain cues from calling-bout durations about a male's body condition.