Of walls and floors: How Experimental Landscape Structures Affect Mating Song Identification in Stridulating Orthopterans

This study explores how modifications to physical landscape structures influence the probability of identifying mating songs of stridulating orthopterans (Ensifera suborder) in their natural environments. By experimentally introducing floors and walls into open-field settings, we demonstrated that such structural changes can either enhance or hinder sound propagation and song identification, depending on species-specific acoustic traits. Song identification probability increased for Nemobiinae species, likely due to improved sound reflection or behavioral attraction to the structures. Conversely, identification of Conocephalinae species decreased in the presence of these structures, suggesting adverse effects on habitat quality and signal transmission. Phaneropterinae species showed no clear response, likely owing to their long-range song propagation from elevated positions. Song identification was also influenced by air temperature, evening hour, vegetation density, and receiver position, with warmer temperatures and elevated positions generally enhancing song identification. Structural changes altered not only sound propagation, but potentially species abundance and behavior. These findings highlight the interplay between physical landscape modifications and species-specific acoustic traits. Our results underscore the need for habitat-specific conservation strategies, particularly in areas where both acoustic and physical landscapes are continually transformed.