Acoustic preference functions and song variability in the Hawaiian cricketLaupala cerasina

Female preference functions for different sexual traits can differ signific antly, from 'unimodal' to 'open ended'. Through the study of acoustic commu nication in anurans, several studies have reported an association between s tatic (stereotyped) traits versus dynamic (variable) traits and preference function shape (unimodal versus open ended, respectively). Observing a simi lar pattern in a phylogenetically independent group would suggest that dete rministic forces have caused a relationship between signal variability and preference function shape in acoustic signalling systems. We examined this phenomenon in crickets, another animal characterized by intersexual acousti c communication. We measured the within-male variability for three acoustic features of the male calling song in Laupala cerasina and the correspondin g shape of the female preference function for each of these features. We of fer support for the generalization that open-ended preference functions cor respond to relatively dynamic courtship traits and unimodal preference func tions correspond to relatively static courtship traits. We discuss the evol utionary significance of these findings in the context of the natural histo ry of the Laupala species radiation.