TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bierbach, David
A1  - Schulte, Matthias
A1  - Herrmann, Nina
A1  - Tobler, Michael
A1  - Stadler, Stefan
A1  - Jung, Christian T.
A1  - Kunkel, Benjamin
A1  - Riesch, Rüdiger
A1  - Klaus, Sebastian
A1  - Ziege, Madlen
A1  - Rimber Indy, Jeane
A1  - Arias-Rodriguez, Lenin
A1  - Plath, Martin
T1  - Predator-induced changes of female mating preferences innate and experiential effects
T2  - BMC evolutionary biology
N2  - Background: In many species males face a higher predation risk than females because males display elaborate traits that evolved under sexual selection, which may attract not only females but also predators. Females are, therefore, predicted to avoid such conspicuous males under predation risk. The present study was designed to investigate predator-induced changes of female mating preferences in Atlantic mollies (Poecilia mexicana). Males of this species show a pronounced polymorphism in body size and coloration, and females prefer large, colorful males in the absence of predators.
 Results: In dichotomous choice tests predator-naive (lab-reared) females altered their initial preference for larger males in the presence of the cichlid Cichlasoma salvini, a natural predator of P. mexicana, and preferred small males instead. This effect was considerably weaker when females were confronted visually with the non-piscivorous cichlid Vieja bifasciata or the introduced non-piscivorous Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). In contrast, predator experienced (wild-caught) females did not respond to the same extent to the presence of a predator, most likely due to a learned ability to evaluate their predators' motivation to prey.
 Conclusions: Our study highlights that (a) predatory fish can have a profound influence on the expression of mating preferences of their prey (thus potentially affecting the strength of sexual selection), and females may alter their mate choice behavior strategically to reduce their own exposure to predators. (b) Prey species can evolve visual predator recognition mechanisms and alter their mate choice only when a natural predator is present. (c) Finally, experiential effects can play an important role, and prey species may learn to evaluate the motivational state of their predators.
KW  - Sexual selection
KW  - female choice
KW  - non-independent mate choice
KW  - predator recognition
KW  - Poecilia mexicana
Y1  - 2011
UR  - https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/36746
SN  - 1471-2148
VL  - 11
IS  - 3-4
PB  - BioMed Central
CY  - London
ER  -