Most environmental pollutants stem from human activities, leading to significant variations in their distribution and impact. These pollutants affect not only physiological, biochemical, and reproductive functions but also behavior. Since behavioral traits are highly adaptable, they offer a rapid response to environmental changes (Tuomainen and Candolin, Evol Ecol Res 13(7):697–710, 2011). Mate choice, an important component of sexual selection, significantly influences population dynamics. Environmental pollutants impact mate choice by altering the expression of traits and influencing the decision-making of individuals across various animal groups. In Drosophila melanogaster, mate choice involves a fixed repertoire of behaviors guided by visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, chemosensory, and mechanosensory signals. This multimodal sensory approach is also common in other animal systems. Courtship behavior communicates vital information about species, gender, and physical condition, helping individuals select suitable mates. However many species might find it difficult to modify their mating habits in response to quick changes in their surroundings brought about by humans. This difficulty in adjustment can result in maladaptive behaviors, where the traits used to attract and choose mates become less effective or harmful. Such maladaptive behaviors can negatively impact individual fitness, population viability, and species survival. Maladaptive behavior is often associated with species decline, loss of biodiversity, and even extinction. Nonetheless, changes in mate-choice cues can sometimes be adaptive if individuals adjust their behavior or genetic systems to environmental changes. Recent reviews, such as by Vasudev and Gurushankara (2022), highlight the potential for adaptive mate-choice behaviors to mitigate the negative effects of environmental pollutants. Promoting adaptive mate-choice behaviors could significantly reduce biodiversity loss and enhance conservation efforts. Additionally, behavioral responses may offer more comprehensive and sensitive biomarkers for detecting environmental pollutants compared to traditional laboratory assays (Zala and Penn, Anim Behav 68(4):649–664, 2004; Candolin and Wong, Sexual selection in changing environments: consequences for individuals and populations. In: Behavioural responses to a changing world: mechanisms and consequences. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, pp 201–215, 2012).