Is microhabitat segregation between two cicada species (Tibicina haematodes and Cicada orni) due to calling song propagation constraints ? J. Sueur & T. Aubin, 2003

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Naturwissenschaften (2003) 90 : 322–326

S H O R T C O M M U N I C A T I O N

Received : 30 September 2002 / Accepted: 5 May 2003 / Published online: 24 May 2003 - Springer-Verlag 2003

Abstract : The cicada species Tibicina haematodes and Cicada orni are two sympatric species often inhabiting vineyards. We show that they occupy two distinct levels : males of T. haematodes produce their calling songs from a high position in vine foliage while males of C. orni call from a low position near the ground on vine trunks.
Experiments consisting of broadcasting and re-recording experimental signals in natural habitats from low and high
positions show that signals are more and more modified as sender–receiver distance increases. T. haematodes
would have an advantage when calling on trunks rather than on branches whereas C. orni would be able to call
indiscriminately from both low and high positions. Thus, the microhabitat segregation observed between T. haema-
todes and C orni in vineyards does not seem to be related to calling song propagation constraints, but may be due to
other ethological or ecological factors.

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