TY  - GEN
A1  - Scherer, Ulrike
A1  - Tiedemann, Ralph
A1  - Schlupp, Ingo
T1  - Male size, not female preferences influence female reproductive success in a poeciliid fish (Poecilia latipinna)
BT  - a combined behavioural/genetic approach
T2  - BMC Research Notes
N2  - Objective

We investigated the potential role of indirect benefits for female mate preferences in a highly promiscuous species of live-bearing fishes, the sailfin molly Poecilia latipinna using an integrative approach that combines methods from animal behavior, life-history evolution, and genetics. Males of this species solely contribute sperm for reproduction, and consequently females do not receive any direct benefits. Despite this, females typically show clear mate preferences. It has been suggested that females can increase their reproductive success through indirect benefits from choosing males of higher quality.

Results

Although preferences for large body size have been recorded as an honest signal for genetic quality, this particular study resulted in female preference being unaffected by male body size. Nonetheless, larger males did sire more offspring, but with no effect on offspring quality. This study presents a methodical innovation by combining preference testing with life history measurements—such as the determination of the dry weight of fish embryos—and paternity analyses on single fish embryos.
T3  - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 468 
KW  - Fitness
KW  - Life history
KW  - Mate choice
KW  - Microsatellite analysis
KW  - Offspring weight
KW  - Paternity analysis
KW  - Sailfin molly
KW  - Sexual selection
Y1  - 2018
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-417471
ER  -