Context-dependent male mate choice in western mosquitofish Sam Wong UCSC Alonzo Lab May 2020
Mate choice ● Mate choice: non-random mating, usually based on preferences for certain ? traits in a partner - Traits usually increase choosy individual’s fitness ● Research biased towards female choice
My question ● Family Poecilidae used to Research question: study mate choice Do male mosquitofish show ● Gravid spot: dark spot on preference for gravid spot female abdomen size? - Associated with fecundity Hypothesis: Males will prefer larger gravid spots.
Methods • Male paired with 2 random females • 20-min recording • Fish photographed after • Counted male copulation attempts towards each female • Measured gravid spot size in photos Photo by Doriane Weiler
Male preference scores Attempts toward Male preference score = Attempts toward - small spot female large spot female
Pooled data • Evidence for preference • Unexpected results • Other explanations? *P < 0.01
Degree of difference in female spots MALE LARGER SPOT FEMALE SMALLER SPOT FEMALE SMALL SPOT DIFFERENCE MODERATE SPOT DIFFERENCE LARGE SPOT DIFFERENCE
Degree of difference results Male preference score differed from zero when the degree of difference was large. Males preferred smaller spots. *P < 0.01
Conclusions ● Evidence for male preference - When males could distinguish - Don’t generalize ● Preference for degree of difference likely related to cognition ● Species generalization or method of analysis - Ideally use mixed-effects model
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Doriane Weiler Allie Smith Suzanne Alonzo Madeleine Glenn Eric Palkovacs Juan Flores Hannah Thacker Emily Hennings Avery Laing
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