In order to assess the effect cold stress has on our model organism, we perform fighting and mating behavioral assays. Changes in fight aggressiveness, dominance or ability to mate suggest alterations to the neurochemistry in the brain that affect motivation or debilitating physical changes.
Fighting Behavior
For this assay, we separate male crickets by an opaque barrier with a clear plexiglass arena and allow them to acclimate to their new environment. After 15 minutes, we remove the barrier and allow interaction. Male crickets will fight for social dominance and the winner will sing a victory song while the loser flees. The aggressiveness of the fight is scored on a scale of 0-6.
Mating Behavior
Males and females are again separated by a barrier which is lifted after 15 minutes. The pair is allotted 10 minutes to mate. During mating, the female mounts on the back of the male. The male threads a sperm filled sac called a spermatophore onto the female. The sperm then swims up into the female’s spermatheca where they are stored until the female lays her eggs. The most common reason for failure to mate after cold stress is lack of a mature male spermatophore.
