TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bierbach, David
A1  - Kronmarck, Claudia
A1  - Hennige-Schulz, Carmen
A1  - Stadler, Stefan
A1  - Plath, Martin
T1  - Sperm competition risk affects male mate choice copying
JF  - Behavioral ecology and sociobiology
N2  - Mate choice copying was mostly described as a strategy employed by females to assess the quality of potential mates, but also males can copy other males' mate choice. An open question in this context is whether and how copying males evaluate sperm competition risk, as mating with a female that has already copulated with another male obviously sets the stage for intense sperm competition (i.e., in species with internal fertilization). Using the livebearing Atlantic molly (Poecilia mexicana) as a model, we asked (a) whether males of that species indeed copy other males' choices, and if they do so, (b) whether copying males strategically adjust their behavior to sperm competition risk. We used an approach where focal males could first choose to associate with a large or a small stimulus female. Mate choice tests were then repeated after an "observation phase" during which either no model male was present (treatment 1, control) or the previously non-preferred female could be seen associating (treatment 2) or physically interacting (treatment 3) with a model male. We found that, after the observation phase, males spent considerably more time with the previously non-preferred female in treatment (2), i.e., they copied the model male's choice. This effect was much weaker during treatment (3) where sexual interactions between the model male and the formerly non-preferred female were allowed. Males, therefore, seem to adjust their copying behavior strategically to the perceived risk of sperm competition.
KW  - Communication networks
KW  - Mate choice copying
KW  - Non-independent mate choice
KW  - Sperm competition
KW  - Social environment
Y1  - 2011
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1177-3
SN  - 0340-5443
VL  - 65
IS  - 9
SP  - 1699
EP  - 1707
PB  - Springer
CY  - New York
ER  -