Does individual personality predict male mating preference for female body size in the Trinidadian guppy?

Kniel, Nina; Godin, Jean‐Guy J.

doi:10.1111/eth.13077

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…In a study by Ojanguren and Magurran [ 10 ], it was found that males of one guppy population show such a preference (lower Aripo, high predation site), but not the males of another one (upper Aripo, low predation site). It thus seems that male preferences for a large female body size in the guppy is a population-specific trait and may further depend on various ecological factors (see results of Kniel and Godin [ 78 ] as well as their discussion for further details). We therefore encourage future experimentation on population differences in male preferences for female activity and body size (see [ 79 ] for a review on variation in female preferences among populations).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male Sexual Preference for Female Swimming Activity in the Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Bierbach

Wenchel

Gehrig

et al. 2021

Biology

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Mate choice that is based on behavioural traits is a common feature in the animal kingdom. Using the Trinidadian guppy, a species with mutual mate choice, we investigated whether males use female swimming activity—a behavioural trait known to differ consistently among individuals in many species—as a trait relevant for their mate choice. In the first experiment, we assessed male and female activity in an open field test alone (two repeated measures) and afterwards in heterosexual pairs (two repeated measures). In these pairs, we simultaneously assessed males’ mating efforts by counting the number of sexual behaviours (courtship displays and copulations). Male and female guppies showed consistent individual differences in their swimming activity when tested both alone and in a pair, and these differences were maintained across both test situations. When controlling for male swimming behaviour and both male and female body size, males performed more courtship displays towards females with higher swimming activity. In a second experiment, we tested for a directional male preference for swimming activity by presenting males video animations of low- and high-active females in a dichotomous choice test. In congruence with experiment 1, we found males to spend significantly more time in association with the high-active female stimulus. Both experiments thus point towards a directional male preference for higher activity levels in females. We discuss the adaptive significance of this preference as activity patterns might indicate individual female quality, health or reproductive state while, mechanistically, females that are more active might be more detectable to males as well.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male Sexual Preference for Female Swimming Activity in the Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Bierbach

Wenchel

Gehrig

et al. 2021

Biology

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show abstract

“…In a study by Ojanguren and Magurran [10], it was found that males of one guppy population show such a preference (lower Aripo, high predation site), but not the males of another one (upper Aripo, low predation site). It thus seems that male preferences for a large female body size in the guppy is a population-specific trait and may further depend on various ecological factors (see results of Kniel and Godin [78] as well as their discussion for further details). We therefore encourage future experimentation on population differences in male preferences for female activity and body size (see [79] for a review on variation in female preferences among populations).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male Sexual Preference for Female Swimming Activity in the Guppy (<em>Poecilia reticulata</em>)

Bierbach¹,

Wenchel²,

Gehrig³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Mate choice that is based on behavioural traits is a common feature in the animal kingdom. Using the Trinidadian guppy, a species with mutual mate choice, we investigated whether males use female swimming activity – a behavioural trait known to differ consistently among individuals in many species – as a trait relevant for their mate choice. In a first experiment, we assessed male and female activity in an open field test alone (two repeated measures) and afterwards in heterosexual pairs (two repeated measures). In these pairs, we simultaneously assessed males’ mating efforts by counting number of sexual behaviours (courtship displays and copulation). Male and female guppies showed consistent individual differences in their swimming activity when tested both alone and in a pair, and these differences were maintained across both test situations. When controlling for male swimming behaviour and both male and female body size, males performed more courtship displays towards females with higher swimming activity. In a second experiment, we tested for a directional male preference for swimming activity by presenting males video animations of low and high active females in a dichotomous choice test. In congruence with experiment 1, we found males to spend significantly more time in association with the high active female stimulus. Both experiments thus point towards a directional male preference for higher activity levels in females. We discuss the adaptive significance of this preference as activity patterns might indicate individual female quality, health or reproductive state while, mechanistically, females that are more active might be more detectable to males as well.

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Will he stay or will he go? Features of nest-guarding common gobies affecting response to predation risk

Magnhagen

2023

Animal Behaviour

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Does individual personality predict male mating preference for female body size in the Trinidadian guppy?

Cited by 5 publications

References 87 publications

Male Sexual Preference for Female Swimming Activity in the Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Male Sexual Preference for Female Swimming Activity in the Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Male Sexual Preference for Female Swimming Activity in the Guppy (<em>Poecilia reticulata</em>)

Will he stay or will he go? Features of nest-guarding common gobies affecting response to predation risk

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